Theatrical Novel ("Notes of the dead") - is an unfinished novel by Mikhail Bulgakov. Written by first-person, on behalf of a writer Sergei Maksudov, the novel tells of the drama behind the scenes and the writers' world.
Work on it was begun on 26 November 1936. But even in 1929, Mikhail Bulgakov created a novel in letters "For Secret friend" (also unfinished), addressed to future wife Helen Bulgakova, which explains how he "became a playwright". In 1930, "For Secret friend" took shape in the new novel - "The Theatre", but in the same year the writer had burned his initial sketches, along with rough drafts of "The novel about the devil".
Only 6 years later, when he again was destroyed as a playwright, several weeks after the final break with Moscow Art Theatre Mikhail Bulgakov began writing a novel about the theater. On the first page of the manuscript, he outlined two names: "Notes of a dead man" and "Theatrical Novel", the first emphasis added two features. In the diary of Helen Bulgakova novel often called as the "Notes of the deceased". But when in 1965 the novel was first published (the magazine "New World», № 8), opportunistic reasons, preference is given the name "Theatrical Novel".
Despite the name of the funeral, "Theatrical Novel" - a very jolly affair, and most researchers believe it, even the most ridiculous piece of Mikhail Bulgakov. Furthermore, it should also mention the extraordinary ease with which this novel was created: in one breath, without drafts, sketches and any corrections. Helen says that while she, on returning Mikhail Bulgakov in evening from the Bolshoi Theatre, laying dinner, he sat at his desk and wrote a few pages, then went to her incredibly pleased, rubbing his hands with satisfaction.
The novel begins with a preface - the alleged author it is not the author, but only a "publisher" if Notes of Sergei Maksudov from Kiev, who sent the essay "to his only friend" with a request to correct it and publish under his own name, "rushed to the Chain Bridge upside down" . The will of the deceased to perform, although the "publisher" and warns that everything contained in the "Notes" - the fruit of a sick imagination of Maksudov, and that "no such theaters, neither of these people, which are derived in a product of the late, nowhere to be found and there was no" and Maksudov himself has no relation to the drama.
"Notes" of Maksudov begin with the fact that the author received a mysterious letter from the director of the Independent Theatre Xavier Ilchin and goes to meet him. Xavier B. meets Maksudov cryptic words: "I read your novel" - and then the story rolled back into the past, and we learn that Maksudov, obscure, humble employee of the newspaper "Herald of the shipping company" has written a novel. Upon completion of reading the novel first Maksudov's colleagues in the service, then expanding the circle of his listeners, come writers (one of whom Likospastov, is an incredible bastard - he became a familiar prototype Bulgakov's known at the time writer Yuri Slezkin). And now, after reading the novel, "the disaster". And all that heard in one voice declared that the novel does not print, because it "will not pass censorship."
Maksudov considers the novel in two versions, but gets it back marked "not suitable". Then he was preparing a suicide, which robs one of his friend, military, revolver. Already put a gun to his temple Maksudov heard an aria from Faust (opera)from a neighboring apartment - and then, preventing him from committing irreparable, to visit him is a strange entity in a beret, but without a pen - as it turns out, is the editor publisher of the private journal "Rodina" Ilya Rudolfi. Rudolfi taken to print the novel.
Maksudov service throws in the newspaper, as "goes to another world: he began to visit with Rudolph and meet famous writers. He had to get acquainted with the publisher, Makar Rvatsky and his brother Aloysius, who cleverly bought the writer notes for half price. But at last novel came out. Maksudov enters the world of real writers - this world is a brilliant and incredibly funny scene depicted in the party for the arrival from abroad, the main celebrity - the writer Ismail Aleksandrovich Bondarevskiy (whose prototype has served Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy). After the party Maksudov ill flu, but this time the breaks yet another disaster: the poor recovery, the author learned, Rudolph went abroad, released only a third of the novel, and the next - nothing. Maksudov comprehends everything that happened to him.
Some time later Maksudov began composing a play - based on written novel. Here the story "Notes of the dead"" back to the original interrupted the scene - a meeting with writer director Ilchin. Ilchin orders Maksudov a play. What a coincidence that Maksudov had already begun to write it! In addition, Ilchin shows Maksudov Independent Theatre (under that name derived Moscow Art Theatre), and Maksudov understands that "this world is mine".
He ends the play, and beyond that begins the novel with the theater. Maksudov enters into a contract, met with employees of the Independent Theatre, with actor Peter Bombardov (which became the collective image of young actors of Moscow Art Theatre ). Bombardov shows Maksudov the theater, featuring a gallery of portraits in the foyer and telling stories depicted.
Soon begins reprinting of the play "Black Snow". Maksudov dictates the text to Secretary of Aristrah, brilliant typist Poliksena Toropetzkaya (its prototype was Olga Bokshanskaya, Secretary of Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and sister of Helen Bulgakova), and while there is work behind the scenes he observes the world, which usually remains unknown to the viewer. By Toropetzkaya drop actors, just to chat and hear the news "from India" from Aristarch, not looking up from his typewriter, Toropetzkaya answers telephone and performs duties. In a break Maksudov walk out the theater and into an amazing place, which the Theatre is called "office" - the possession of Philip Tulumbasov (here handing out pass-out). And here is where to turn around to Bulgakov - gallery of types of Moscow and a visiting folk, always milling in the office of Philip, was discharged extremely picturesque.
Once the play is reprinted, it must be "read" before one of the theater director - Ivan (the reader immediately realizes that, under the name of Ivan in the novel derived founder the Moscow Art Theatre, Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavsky). Despite the warning of Bombardov, Maksudov still made a mistake and gave a shot, "the scene where the hero shoots himself, and so it all wrong. Ivan interrupts reading and requires that the playwright rewrote the scene, replacing it with another, where the hero stabs a dagger. Not only this, Ivan demanded that the young heroine, her sister, was turned into a mother, which he immediately christened Antonina, and after reading, the author stated that "now you need to start working on this stuff".
However, no change in the play Maksudov could not do, though at first tried.
Maksudov refused to make changes in the play, and at the Theatre seemed to have forgotten about it. Several weeks passed, when he was summoned to the theater - on the advice to "elders". Illustrious past, the great old actor of the Theatre, the founders, gathered to discuss the play and the situation. To his disgust Maksudov realizes that they all consider him to play for some mysterious circumstances, inappropriate, and requests to return it to him, but immediately realizes that was a trap: they signed a contract obliges him to make any required changes, however, the author prohibited from transferring the play in other theaters. Frustrated, angry author goes and calls to his Bombardov to "wake".
Bombardov explains to Maksudov that the "founders" of the play like, and unusually, but they are offended by the author. Founders crave the good stuff, roles in which they could show all his skill, and here comes some "gray suit" and "bring the play in which boys are!"
Maksudov returned to his dull work in the newspaper, "quite wild" and ceased to someone talk, and a theater as if he had forgotten about it. Occasionally, the playwright reads theatrical press, from which it learns about the new achievements of their comrades in the shop, and that independent theater is busy looking for a modern play. A few weeks later the miracle happens: Maksudov receives a card from the theater with a notice that begins rehearsals of his play.
This opens the second part of the novel, in which are written only two chapters: the fifteenth and sixteenth. Both are devoted to describing the play rehearsals, which he spent Ivan consistent with his "theory". A great opportunity to look at the Stanislavski's system by eyes of Mikhail Bulgakov.
Requirements for alterations in the play suffers Maksudov. His relationship with the director, and Ivan the final spoil. But more than adaptations, Maksudov annoying long rehearsal, the play on which Ivan embodied in the life of his theory. To our deep dismay of Maksudov, after all these exercises, the actors play worse, so that the playwright begins to question itself "theory" by Ivan. In this Theatrical Novel terminates.
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