ABSTRACT
Professionalism is a very necessary and healthy basis to begin any work, in any field of art. Inspiration is born of hard work. It is not the other way around. Oh, how seldom does anything happen all by itself in the theatre, or in the role of even the most gifted actor. It does happen, but not often. To know how to work, really to make an effort-that takes talent too. Even an enormous talent. Gone is the "resounding intonation", the stately tread of actors, their artificial inspiration, the red velvet curtain, the conventional reading of parts in front of the prompter's booth, the elaborate wings and doorways, the theatrical storm and rain-none of that goes with Chekhov's dramas. In one corner a literary discussion would be going on, in the garden a group would be throwing stones like schoolboys to see who could throw farthest, in a third place Ivan Bunin, with extraordinary talent, would be acting out something.
