Chapter
12
The
banners mentioned that there is going to be a show “Blackmagic and its Exposure” in Variety theatre
on Thursday, in the second half.
The
hall of Variety is full to its capacity.
The
evening began with some small tricks on cycles by Julie and her family.
People
are excited and they are eagerly waiting for the black magic show.
The
only person who is nervous about this whole thing is Rimsky. He is sitting in
his cabin and biting his lips in nervousness. Now and then his face would
shiver with fear. He was scared that after Styopa’s disappearance, now
Varenukha too has disappeared. Rimsky felt that there is a link between these
two events.
He
was wondering why Varenukha did not return from that place where he was
sent with telegrams? He could not decide to call them and confirm
whether Varenukha had reached there or not. At last at 10 in the night he
decided to call there, but he found
that the telephone is dead, in fact all the telephones in Variety were dead. Though
Rimsky was a little scared at this he, in fact, felt happy to know this, as
this he saved him from calling them.
During
the first interval Rimsky was informed that the foreign artist had arrived
along with his team. He had to go to receive him as there was no one left in
Variety to welcome him.
Voland
has come with his interpreter and a big, fat cat. Presence of an interpreter
too makes Rimsky unhappy. Some tricks by the assistant/interpreter of the
foreign artist made people very excited, they were too impressed by the cat who
was walking on her legs, drinking water from the jar…
When
the third bell rings and the lights in the hall go off, the Master of
Ceremonies, George Bengalsky introduces the artists and the show and comments
that though the show is about black magic, we know that there is nothing called
black magic and that the foreign artist is going to expose the technique of
black magic…
The
curtain opens; the magician enters along with his two assistants: the checkered
tall man and the huge cat walking on its hind legs. Public applauded…
The
magician, Voland orders for a chair and a chair appears on the stage. Voland
asks his assistant, “Tell me, dear Fagot, don’t you think that people of Moscow
have changed a lot?”
Fagot
(who is actually Koroviev) answers in the affirmative.
Voland
comments that apparently there is a lot of change in Moscow: people are looking well dressed, trams, cars,
buses…”
Bengalsky
interrupts saying that the foreign artist seems impressed at Moscow’s technical
achievement…the Muscovites too have impressed him.
Voland
is angry, he asks Fagot, whether he has shown any sign of surprise?
Fagot
denies and comments that Bengalsky is a liar.
Trouble
begins for Bengalsky.
The
next item, with pack of cards turns out to be hilarious when the cards change
into currency notes…there is a race among the people to catch them. Bengalsky
again comments that this was an example of black magic and that the currency
notes will soon disappear.
Voland
is really very angry….Fagot asks the audience how should they deal with Bengalsky,
someone from the hall comments, “cut off his head!” Fagot agrees and calls Begemot
(the huge cat is called Begemot). The next moment Begemot jumps on Bengalsky’s
head and plucks off his head from his neck!
Blood
oozes like fountain from the broken veins and wets his coat..The headless torso
stumbles for some time then sits on the stage and pleads, “please give me back
my head…take everything back from me…my flat, my portraits…just give me back my
head…”.
There
are shrieks in the hall. People take pity on Bengalsky
Voland
comments, “These people are like common people. They love money…but sometimes
some kindness too appears in their hearts…problem of residential accommodation
has spoilt them…” and he orders that Bengalsky’s head is put back on its place.
Bengalsky
is made to promise that he will not poke his liar nose everywhere and then his
head is placed back on his neck, his coat is cleaned; a bundle of currency
notes is put in his pocket and he is taken out of the hall, but suddenly he
goes into delirium….starts behaving like an insane and is taken to Stravinksky’s
clinic.
Then
starts the Fashion-shop…the shop with latest fashioned dresses, shoes, purses,
cosmetics…Women are invited to get new dresses and accessories in exchange of
their old costumes.
After
this part of the show is over, the Chairman on the Accoustics Committee, Arkadi
Appolonovich Simpleyarov demands that Fagot expose the technique of black
magic. This proves disastrous to the chairman himself.
It
is exposed in full of public that he tells lies to his wife regarding official
meetings and spends time with female artists who come to Moscow to perform.
Using this type of relationship he insists that they are given lead roles in
famous plays, that is how actresses without any talent get plum roles in plays.
Bulgakov
has exposed the reality of theatrical world; about how the problem of quarters
brings change into people’s behavior…
Suddenly
Begemot announces that the show is over and in a moment the stage is empty,
Fagot and Begemot, as if dissolve in the air; the police enters Simpleyarov’s
box where a relative of his, a young upcoming artist, starts banging him with
her little umbrella at this exposure, and Simpleyarov’s wife thundering and
calling the police….
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टिप्पणी: केवल इस ब्लॉग का सदस्य टिप्पणी भेज सकता है.