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I went to the theater for the second time with my mother. I was about 16 and was a big girl, but I didn’t understand the language, but watching Bugova’s [Lia Bugova: famous Jewish actress in Odessa, after World War II she performed at the Russian theater in Odessa] acting I couldn’t help crying. It was the ‘Overseas’ performance about people leaving or vice versa, coming back from there, I can’t remember exactly. We didn’t discuss this performance or the subject of departure at home. No, we didn’t. We discussed beautiful acting. At that time I was sure that I was lucky to be born in this country, at that place and at that time. There was a drama club in our school. It was headed by Basmanov, actor of the Jewish Theater. I was in the 10th grade then. We staged some plays, but they weren’t in the Jewish language, of course. I remember that he taught us acting and reciting. After I finished school this club was closed.
Period
Interview
Bertha Isayeva