ABSTRACT
The news of the Novgorod-Seversky trip reached Stanislavsky. He was delighted with the trip’s success. Moreover, he shared with his close circle the news of the young group that worked with his methods. Upon the troupe’s return to Moscow, Vakhtangov was suddenly able to realize his plans—he could test the Stanislavsky System inside the collective of young MAT peers. Vakhtangov’s diary reflects the lightning-quick speed of this development:
August 3, 1911
K.[onstantin] S.[tanislavsky] asked me to form a group among the Moscow Art Theatre troupe and start training them in his system.
August 4, 1911
K. S. suggested that I develop training exercises.
August 5, 1911
K. S. promised a space for the training, and the required finances. He assigned me to stage a few scenes […] and show him.
(Sourcebook 2011: 229) Stanislavsky also expressed his desire to see the Novgorod-Seversky troupe perform. On August 6, 1911, Vakhtangov made the following entry in his diary:Following the excerpt from The Fire, K.[onstantin]. S.[tanislavsky] spoke a lot about my work. He was satisfied with the excerpt. So was Nemirovich. 1
(Ivanov 2011 vol. I: 265) The following events, as recorded in Vakhtangov’s diary, developed in the atmosphere of secrecy:August 9, 1911
K. S. told me, “Work. If anyone says a word, I will tell him: goodbye. I need a new theatre. Let’s act in secret. Don’t mention my name.”
August 14, 1911
Stanislavsky told me, “Every theatre has its intrigues. They should not scare you. On the contrary, it will be a good school for you. Work. Take those who trust you. If the theatre administration asks what it all means, tell them, ‘I don’t know, I am acting on Stanislavsky’s orders.’ I will provide the money you need. Don’t worry where it comes from. You will have a salary of 60 rubles.”
August 20, 1911
Stanislavsky told me, “I made a mistake of explaining my system in one lesson. Many don’t get it. I am afraid this will cause conflicts. Beware.” I replied, “I have my own method of teaching.”
K. S.“Do you want me to come to your first class?”
Me“No, that would make me self-conscious.”
(Sourcebook 2011: 230–31) Vakhtangov asserted his independence “from day one.” It sounds like a paradox—Vakhtangov, still in his first year at the MAT, does not want Stanislavsky’s guidance in teaching the Stanislavsky System. He has his “own method” of teaching, and he does not want Stanislavsky to get in the way. It appears that, already at this early date, Vakhtangov shared the basic principles of the Stanislavsky platform, but not his methods of teaching, or his techniques—at least not all of them.