Ada Rohovtseva began her benefit “My Theater” at the Suziria Theater with showing scenes from the film that became significant in her creative life Salute, Maria! and when the lights in the hall came on the audience greeted the actress standing.
“I have not yet recovered from the grief,” admitted Ada ROHOVTSEVA. “I buried all of my family: my father, mother, brothers, husband, and now son. When you live a long time you face different tests, but the worst is the death of your loved ones. This summer, I lost the dearest man in my life – my son. It is a torture for a mother. I am now going through this torture. You know, after my husband’s (Kost Petrovych) death I learned to talk to my loved ones who already passed away. You might want to know how I deal with my pain. I admit, today I am ashamed to live. There are no such words of comfort that could ease my pain. When you lose someone, it is as if you turn the pages of the memory book. I lost another theater (Kyiv Drama and Comedy Theater on the Left Bank of Dnipro) from ill will, and maybe not. I don’t know… it all happened because of a person, who has been my friend for 50 years. Eduard Mytnytsky was unable to find words of comfort and did not compromise in the time that was so hard for me. I am sorry that I lost a dear friend and also colleagues with whom I worked together for nearly 10 years. I am sad that I will no longer be able to go on this stage playing characters that are so dear to me in plays Pink Bridge and Vasia is supposed to Call [directed by Ekaterina Stepankova. – Author]. Left Bank Theater no longer has those plays on its repertoire.”
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“You know, the age protects you from the fuss and routine. I continue to work: now I am filming a movie, playing in non-repertory theatres, and also working on my book. The main characters of my book are people that are not alive now, whose earthly life was short, but meeting with them has left a mark on my heart and soul. I write and as if talk to them.
“When my husband was ill and was dying I went through nightmarish days, The Days after his death were even worse – it felt as if someone cut a half of me. We had lived together for 46 years. Everyone, who faces such situation, copes with it in his own way: some spend lots of time at the cemetery, others seek peace in a church. I found peace in something different – I began writing memoirs, the story of our love, and his success in the film making. This was the way to continue life for me. I wanted to show Kostiantyn Stepankov not only as an actor, but also as a person with his own life, character, love, and father’s obligations. When the book My Kostia was finished and printed, finally the load fell off my heart.
“After the death of my son I was shocked and stopped talking. Now I began to write again – about my family and colleagues: these are small sketches about the time and people, who left a trace in my memory. I am quite old and I remember a lot – not only about great actors, with whom I had luck to perform together in Russian drama: Kiril Lavrov, Pavel Luspekaev, Lev Borisov, Viktor Khalatov, and David Borovsky (by the way, Borovsky was the set designer of 40 plays and I played roles in 26 of his productions), but also names of cleaning ladies, stage crews, and costume designers. For example, cleaning lady Tetiana was one of the brightest people at the Lesia Ukrainka Theater. She knew all the plays by heart and had her opinion about everyone. We, actors, sometimes even feared her comments, because she could speak about the way you acted quite straightforwardly.”
“I love the dust of the scenes and I love the process of filming. Today, when I already turned 75 I understand that at such age you are obliged to pass on what you’ve known and experienced and if I won’t do this there probably won’t be other people who will remember about the time in which we lived.”
During the concert the actress performed the monologue of Helia from the legendary Warsaw Melody (the actress played 670 times in this play by Leonid Zorin directed by Eduard Mytnytsky), a fragment of the Sacred Monsters by Jean Cocteau (directed by Roman Viktiuk), and letters of Lika Mizinova to Anton Chekhov (My Mocking Happiness from the play by Leonid Maliugin, directed by Mykhailo Rieznykovych). During the night there were presented the fragments from films The Taming of Fire (a duet with Kiril Lavrov), Eternal Call (together with Vadym Spiridonov), and when scenes from The Stone Master appeared on the screen (she played in this film together with Bohdan Stupka) many people in the audience got a lump in their throats, and tears glistened in the corners of Rohovtseva’s eyes. She talked about Stupka as a friend of their family and a partner in theater production I am not Afraid of the Gray Wolf.
“Why are the brightest people leaving us?” asked Rohovtseva. “It is hard to believe that Stupka will never call me and I will never hear his voice again. He was a genius! Audience, directors and colleagues loved him for the fantastic boost of energy, kindness, and wisdom. We have yet to realize how lucky we were to live in the same time as the great master of theater and cinema.”
Rohovtseva recited poetry of Anna Akhmatova and her own poems from the book Mother’s Prayers and Kissing Your Voice. She also read compositions written by her daughter and son. The soiree ended with the fragment of melodrama Winter Romance about an old couple who don’t find understanding with neither their children, nor grand and great children. The main roles were stunningly performed by Rohovtseva and Juozas Budraitis. At the end the audience in the concert hall repeated after the main character of the film Ivan Ilich: “You are a great actress Ada Rohovtseva!” More than two hours in your company just flew by like a flash. Despite the fact that not a single official from the Ministry of Culture, from Mayor’s office, or the state apparatus came to the concert and no pompous speeches were read from the stage, there were no baskets of flowers, but the small hall of the Suziria Theater gathered together the true admirers of the beautiful actress, and their modest bouquets and applause were from their hearts. I personally, was perplexed that the anniversary concert of a hero of Ukraine was not attended by any government representatives. Today you will not find a Ukrainian actress who would be as famous and as loved not only in our country, but also in the CIS. Why don’t we appreciate great talents while they are still alive and are sparing of good words for them?
We are sorry Ada Rohovtseva. And thank you!
