The Czech clown Boleslav Polivka, who came to the theatrical Olympics, has a video camera installed on his farm. The footage is broadcast by the central TV channel. The reason for the selective voyeurism of the Czechs is great love. They are interested...

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Czech clown Boleslav Polivka, who came to the theatrical Olympics, has a video camera installed on the farm. The footage is broadcast by the central TV channel. The reason for the selective voyeurism of the Czechs is great love. They are interested in everything that their favorite actor does. How he talks to his friends, how he rides his favorite horses, how he drinks slivovitz.

Polivka brought to Moscow the author's performance "For the Lady on the Balcony" - a love story for a woman who does not come. A place is reserved for her on the balcony, insane acrobatics are performed in the hope that she is about to appear and appreciate it. The expectations of the intrigued audience are brightened up by assistants carrying bottles with “Maestro's tears” around the hall. "Tears" in fact turn out to be a strong drink. Polivka at this time tells that he was fed by swallows and butterflies, squeezes the last tears out of the pillow into a bottle, tries on extravagant pink jackets and waits for the lady somehow quite seriously.

His stage character is really deep, with destiny and character. The bastion of dramatic clowning is held today, perhaps, only by him and Polunin. Its roots are Doberro and Hasek. Joking independence, an attempt to get away from problems through estrangement and stupidity of oneself is a purely Czech trait.

— You were born and raised in the Moravian region. They came up with a comic Wallachian kingdom and became its king. How about a shadow kingdom?

“I already have the Shadow Queen. Now I fear shadow children.

What was your election slogan?

“Give me your voice and be silent.”

— Has it become quiet?

- The Wallachian passport says: if a person loses his sense of humor, then he loses the right to be called a Wallachian.

- Your last performance is called Brecht's Drinking Variations. What is customary to eat plum brandy?

- It is customary to eat plum brandy with plum brandy. One is poured, the second is chewed. Or "ears" - an original cookie that resembles human ears.

- How did you play on the stage of the Hermitage Theater?

- Stanislavsky played in the Hermitage for the first four seasons. It is wildly pleasant to realize this, although at one time I struggled with it: Stanislavsky was required by the program, like the Russian language. But if we did not know Stanislavsky, the modern avant-garde would be different.

— Is the Czech Republic going to join the European Union?

- Yes. But while we are waiting for Europe to join us. This requires patience.

- You were in Moscow 15 years ago with commedia dell'arte. What do you think has changed since then?

“You know what has changed. I can only be a witness to change. Today, it is no longer that dark Moscow that threatens to emerge from this darkness. Now this city has colors.

- How much can you believe this multi-colored?

— Prague is often said to be the backstage of the Czech Republic. Visitors imperceptibly what play is being played, what game is being played.

- Do you somehow define the genre in which you work?

There is a tree and there are branches. In the Brno City Theater I play Keane the Fourth in Gorin's play. Mr. Gorin came to the premiere and was very pleased. So I play both serious roles and comedic ones. I am moving from one role to another. I find humor in tragedies - it is everywhere.

- Moscow viewers have already called you an alcoholic clown, a homeless clown - you behave so naturally on stage.

- Once we were in Paris and played "Lady ..." for a month. We went to dine in the same restaurant, and the staff already knew us. The waiter introduced me to his acquaintances like this: "The richest clochard I know." Such an assessment for me is a compliment. I am both a king and a jester.

In general, my dream, as a Wallachian king, is to get off the ground and circle over it. Drink plum brandy and throw bottles down in the hope that they will fall on the heads of our enemies.