Chapter 12
Black Magic and Its Exposure
The banners mentioned that there is
going to be a show, “Black magic 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.
Woland 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, Woland, orders for a
chair and a chair appears on the stage.
Woland asks his assistant:
'Tell me, my gentle
Fagott,' Woland inquired of the checkered clown, who evidently had another
appellation than Koroviev, `what do you think, the Moscow populace has
changed significantly, hasn't it?'
The magician
looked out at the hushed audience, struck by the appearance of the armchair out
of nowhere.
"That it
has, Messire,' Fagott-Koroviev replied in a low voice.
"You're
right. The city folk have changed greatly ... externally, that is ... as has
the city itself, incidentally... Not to mention their clothing, these ... what
do you call them ... trams, automobiles ... have appeared ...'
Woland asks further:
'Quite right,
thank you,' the magician spoke slowly in a heavy bass, `as in a question of
much greater importance: have the city folk changed inwardly?'
"Yes,
that is the most important question, sir.'
There was
shrugging and an exchanging of glances in the wings, Bengalsky stood all red,
and Rimsky was pale.
The officials are
scared that the magician is going to talk about the psychological state of
citizens and they are alarmed.
Bengalsky interrupts saying that the
foreign artist seems impressed at Moscow’s technical achievement…the Muscovites
too have impressed him.
Woland 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.
Woland 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
Woland 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.
'
The mass of
spectators,' the impudent clown interrupted Sempleyarov, `doesn't seem to be
saying anything. But, in consideration of your most esteemed desire, Arkady
Apollonovich, so be it - I will perform an exposure. But, to that end, will you
allow me one more tiny number?'
'Why not?'
Arkady Apollonovich replied patronizingly. 'But there must be an exposure.'
'Very well,
very well, sir. And so, allow me to ask, where were you last evening, Arkady
Apollonovich?'
At this
inappropriate and perhaps even boorish question, Arkady Apollonovich's
countenance changed, and changed quite drastically.
`Last evening
Arkady Apollonovich was at a meeting of the Acoustics Commission,' Arkady
Apollonovich's wife declared very haughtily, "but I don't understand what
that has got to do with magic.'
'Ouee,
madame!' Fagott agreed. 'Naturally you don't understand. As for the meeting,
you are totally deluded. After driving off to the said meeting, which
incidentally was not even scheduled for last night, Arkady Apollonovich
dismissed his chauffeur at the Acoustics Commission building on Clean Ponds'
(the whole theatre became hushed), `and went by bus to Yelokhovskaya Street to
visit an actress from the regional itinerant theatre, Militsa Andreevna
Pokobatko, with whom he spent some four hours.'
'Aie!'
someone cried out painfully in the total silence. Arkady Apollonovich's young
relation suddenly broke into a low and terrible laugh.
'It's all
clear!' she exclaimed. 'And I've long suspected it. Now I see why that giftless
thing got the role of Louisa!''
And, swinging
suddenly, she struck Arkady Apollonovich on the head with her short and fat
violet umbrella.
It is exposed in full of public that
Simpleyarov 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; he also talks 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….
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें
टिप्पणी: केवल इस ब्लॉग का सदस्य टिप्पणी भेज सकता है.