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The audition lasted two days. My friends went in before me and recited their poems. Finally, it was my turn. Georgi Stamatov looked me up and down and, to my surprise, asked me to perform a sketch before reciting the poem. But I had no idea what that meant. He asked me to imagine that I entered an official banquet, invited the most beautiful lady to waltz and dance with her. This is a sketch, which is a minimum requirement for drama actors. Anyway, I answered that I could act it out, but that I was against dancing.
At that time Hashomer Hatzair taught us to be against dancing, wearing ties, smoking and drinking. I was an ardent follower of these ideas. Although I worked as a bank employee, I didn't wear a tie, neither smoked, nor drank. The organization advocated that dances could distract us from our mission - to prepare for work as a 'halutz' -a worker in a village commune [in Palestine], and build the Jewish state. I explained that to Georgi Stamatov, who was sitting with his wife, also a famous actress, in the second row in the theater. He accepted my explanation and asked me to act it out up to the moment of the dancing and to imagine that I had no tie. The stage was well lit and I acted out entering the ballroom and heading towards the beautiful lady. When I had finished, Georgi Stamatov told me I was free to go and I left without reciting my poem. I felt a bit sad because I thought that he didn't like my performance. The results was to be announced in two days on the bulletin board of the Plovdiv theater.
When the results were out, I saw that my friends were admitted, but my name wasn't among the amateurs. However, my friend Mair spotted my name among those of the trainees. That was a big surprise for me because it could be my opportunity for an actor's career. My joy was great. I had to go straight away to rehearsals for the premiere of the new play. I had to play truant from the bank so that I could go to the theater. I found myself numerous excuses to go out during my working hours because the theater attracted me more. One day the director of the bank, Menahem Fardo, called me into his office and I had to confess about my new hobby. The director scolded me and I had to give up the theater. At that time the country was in a deep crisis; there were many unemployed men and I couldn't afford to risk losing my job. My father also talked to me about that.
At that time Hashomer Hatzair taught us to be against dancing, wearing ties, smoking and drinking. I was an ardent follower of these ideas. Although I worked as a bank employee, I didn't wear a tie, neither smoked, nor drank. The organization advocated that dances could distract us from our mission - to prepare for work as a 'halutz' -a worker in a village commune [in Palestine], and build the Jewish state. I explained that to Georgi Stamatov, who was sitting with his wife, also a famous actress, in the second row in the theater. He accepted my explanation and asked me to act it out up to the moment of the dancing and to imagine that I had no tie. The stage was well lit and I acted out entering the ballroom and heading towards the beautiful lady. When I had finished, Georgi Stamatov told me I was free to go and I left without reciting my poem. I felt a bit sad because I thought that he didn't like my performance. The results was to be announced in two days on the bulletin board of the Plovdiv theater.
When the results were out, I saw that my friends were admitted, but my name wasn't among the amateurs. However, my friend Mair spotted my name among those of the trainees. That was a big surprise for me because it could be my opportunity for an actor's career. My joy was great. I had to go straight away to rehearsals for the premiere of the new play. I had to play truant from the bank so that I could go to the theater. I found myself numerous excuses to go out during my working hours because the theater attracted me more. One day the director of the bank, Menahem Fardo, called me into his office and I had to confess about my new hobby. The director scolded me and I had to give up the theater. At that time the country was in a deep crisis; there were many unemployed men and I couldn't afford to risk losing my job. My father also talked to me about that.
Location
Bulgaria
Interview
haim molhov