Dramatizing a Famous Russian Love Story
The New York Public Library will host a unique theatrical production Saturday, November 9 at 2 p.m. Its uniqueness is not in the fact that it is bilingual and will be performed simultaneously in English and Russian, but that it is a production about Boris Pasternak, the Nobel Prize-winning author of the tragic love story “Doctor Zhivago,” and Olga Ivinskaya, the poet and literary translator who was his lover and muse.
Performed by actors from the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, it will surely please theatergoers and poetry lovers. The artistic directors of the project, both of whom penned a play based on Pasternak and Ivinskaya’s romance, are Irina Volkovich (Literary Theater Dialogue), who wrote the Russian-language “The Candle Burned,” and Scott Sickles (WorkShop Theater Company), who did the English-language “Lightning from Heaven.” They answered questions from Russian Bazaar.
Irina: Yes, working on the script together was not easy. The fact is that Scott does not speak any Russian. So he chose the main scenes, which uncover the main theme of love between Pasternak and Olga Ivinskaya, the dramatic story of Olga, and the drama of the publication of the “Doctor Zhivago” novel. In my turn, I had to connect the scenes from the American show with our poetic part so that they run smoothly. I repeat, we have all the dramatic scenes in English, and poetry will be in Russian.
Scott: So far we have not had any problems. Irina sent me her part of the work, with explanations of each section, because I really can neither read nor speak Russian. I sent her excerpts from my play, the ones I wanted to stage. After that, Irina joined these passages and, I think, she did it very professionally. I liked the new script. The rehearsals showed what we needed to change or cut. By the way, we are not saying that this is one story, but, rather, two versions of the same story. Irina’s play is more theatrical and poetic, and mine is more theatrical and cinematic.
We will take turns telling the story of Pasternak and Ivinskaya in two languages. My Olga is a passionate woman, with art and literature playing a huge role in her life. In what I have written there is certainly some truth, but there is also a bit of fiction, which is normal for a dramatic piece. Irina’s and my views on the last days of their relationship will vary widely, but they will also resonate with each other, all at the same time.
Scott, is Pasternak the only Russian author you know, or are you familiar with the work of other writers?
I am a fan of [Anton] Chekhov, of course. “The Cherry Orchard” is one of my favorite plays. I am especially fond of two characters, Varya and Lopakhin. So to speak, they broke my heart the most. And Chekhov’s short stories in general inspire me in the most direct way… My theater, WorkShop Theater Company, has even hosted an evening of one-act plays based on Chekhov’s short stories titled “We’ll Take a Cup of Kindness Yet.” We performed it in Central Park on [last year’s] New Year’s Eve. I was very anxious, but also proud watching it all, because our team did such a great job. Just as proud as I am about Pasternak and Ivinskaya. Come. It will be interesting.