Groan.
ALEXANDER (to the audience, sympathetically): my friend still…
Leaves the stage to the music of the chanson style, taking with him the bottle with which he came.
ZTM.
5 SCENE. BALL
18th century. Times of the Empress Catherine the Second.
The music heard at the appropriate points in time.
If you can at least partially recreate the atmosphere of that time on stage – it will be great, if not, you can beat the concentration of light on the actor and music.
In a magnificent dress, women's clothing, a wig and other attributes that were in place by the end of the 1760s, Alexander appears on the stage, spinning in a dance.
The simplest makeup, pink cheeks, inspired face and most importantly – posture.
The music stops.
Alexander slowly stops dancing.
Stands up in half a turn to the viewer, covers himself with a fan, which respectfully covers himself.
ALEXANDER (in a woman's voice):
Oh, really, I'm surprised,
Where did the courage go?
Like a bird in the sky I fly,
But only in dreams, in life – opal.
As if the sky is angry,
Left the young ladies without a pair.
The Canon of husbands was courteous to us,
Now we have lost the spell
Left on their own,
For a rare case of fun.
Tired to complain about the fate,
The head was replaced by the power.
Alexander coughs, tired of speaking in a thin female voice, furiously folds the fan and throws it backstage on his nerves.
She casually pulls off these feminine garments and wipes her face.
He is, to put it mildly, dissatisfied.
ALEXANDER (in a rage, in his own voice): There are a lot of people in the troupe. Actresses sit idle, so no, the Director saw some of his own zest in dressing up a man as a young lady. (As emotionally as possible, pulling off the remnants of outfits, wiping the Marafet from the face) What should I do with my voice? With your belly? (he shakes his stomach with his hands.) It's not very clear what happened here. I had to not eat for a month, and what is most offensive – not to drink!
Artist – do not drink! Can you imagine what it's like? This is crazy! This constant transformation of learning roles, a change of scenery, environment and even time! The emotional state from the frying pan into the fire. And I don't have to drink? And then here on the stage to play a secular young lady and a gentle, not squeaky voice to release thin, pliable passes to representatives of the Palace intelligentsia? I'm ready to run them down with my bare hands, because they sneer at me, and I'm here in this rags anneal… And at the same time, I need to be playful, high-minded, moderately frivolous, but still high-minded young lady with them.
He puts his hands on his hips and exhales hopelessly.
ALEXANDER (somewhat distantly): Business… the
Director's annoyed voice is heard through the megaphone (a businesslike, not too positive voice in the recording): something doesn't suit you, Alexander? We can find a replacement for you, if everything is so fundamental!
ALEXANDER (apologetically, making excuses, looking for the Director in the audience): No,no, it's all right! I agreed to this. And lost weight and prepared… This is all true… a moment of weakness. Stress comes out. It seems to be out, we can continue. (After a short pause, changing his tone) Excuse me. (Somewhere behind the scenes) Bring a fan, please.
The music for ballroom accompaniments corresponding to the time of the episode is played again.
