Arthur Page #4

Arthur admires the master’s grand piano; he tests the piano with a few scales and begins to perform the prelude. Dimitri listens patiently, lights a cigarette he seems to be amused by Arthurs playing, but he is generally unimpressed, but knows he has talent. Arthur plays the last bar of the music and sits patiently waiting for Dimitri’s praise, Arthurs piano playing was of Academy standard.

Dimitri – Thank you, you play the piano worse than I thought you would, the younger generation haven’t quite grasped the great Russian composer, God knows what Rachmaninov would have said. I know what Seminova would have done, she would have sent you home never to return.

Arthur – It’s the best I can do.

Dimitri – You’re too stiff your wrist is like that of a wrestler, how do you expect the singing line to capture the listener, but not to worry I know just the right person for you.

Arthur – Are you sending me home.

Dimitri – Not exactly, I’m sending you to a dear old friend of mine, come back in two months’ time, here is his address, I’ll let him know you’re on your way.

Arthur searches for the address of Dimitri’s old friend, he finds a studio, an Art studio. Arthur rings the bell for the studio.

Mr Warren – Who is it.

Arthur – My name is Arthur; I was told that you would be expecting me.

Mr Warren – Yes of course, come in Arthur, you play the piano, I’ve been looking for an assistant.

Arthur – No I’m here for a piano lesson.

Mr Warren – No piano lesson, I’ve drawn the outline, I just need you to paint into the drawing, I’ve been commissioned by the royal ballet.

Arthur follows Mr warren’s instructions; he appears to be enjoying himself.

Mr Warren – Too stiff, your wrist, it’s a paint brush not a knife, lighter, looser, flow with it.

Scene change, Arthur returns to Dimitri’s house after two months absence. Dimitri greets Arthur and asks him to play more piano music. Arthur, performs Chopin’s waltz in C# minor. Arthur performs with confidence and brilliance, Dimitri seems un-impressed, asks him to stop halfway.

Dimitri – It’s a waltz, not a boxing match, no one would waltz to your piano playing, I want you to meet an old friend of mine, I’ll tell him you’re on your way, here is his address. She is an expert in waltz, come back in two months’ time.

Scene Change, Arthur arrives at a dance studio, he rings the bell.

Miss Raya – Who is it.

Arthur – Sorry I think I made a mistake; I’ll be on my way.

Miss Raya – Arthur.

Arthur – Yes that is me.

Raya- please come in; I was expecting you.

Arthur reluctantly walks into a dance studio, Raya is a contemporary Ballet dancer.

Arthur – There has been a mistake, I’m not a dancer.

Raya – That’s funny neither was I at the beginning, come on Dimitri is an old friend of mine I promised him, I’d teach you to dance.

Raya begins teaching Arthur contemporary dance, Dimitri was correct he had no understanding of motion.

Raya – Arthur you really made me laugh, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone dance so badly, but I see some potential, here, look it has to flow to the music, you feel the rhythm with your body, not with your ear.

Arthur – Right I get it, can I go home now.

Raya – I’m afraid not, you’re here with me for eight sessions.

Arthur completes his dance class and returns to Dimitri for the piano lesson.

Scene change, Arthur is back on Dimitri’s piano, he is not looking happy, he performs a Shubert piece Standchen in D minor. Dimitri lights a cigarette, he looks unimpressed and decides to stop him halfway.

Arthur – Don’t say anything, I know you want me to talk to an old friend of yours.

Dimitri – What a clever guess, but first, where was the song, I didn’t hear a song, I heard a cat fight, I want you to meet a very good friend of mine, he’ll be expecting you, here is his address.

Scene change, Arthur arrives at a large house with large gates, he rings the bell.

Mr Taylor – Who is it.

Arthur – My name is Arthur, I’m here for singing lessons.

Mr Taylor – You’ve come to the wrong place, no singing lesson, these are breathing classes.

Arthur – Well that’s what I’m here for.

Mr Taylor – I was expecting you, please come in, can you sight sing.

Arthur – I guess.

Mr Taylor – Too bad, they are the worst singers, listen and repeat after me.

Mr Taylor begins to sing a few bars of Schubert.

Mr Taylor – Now repeat what you heard.

Arthur – I can’t it’s too long, the phrase is too long.

Mr Taylor- you’re just not breathing right, here take in a breath, do it quietly first, a long breath, repeat this phrase as many times as you can, at least eight times.

Arthur continues with his singing lessons, for eight sessions, he then returns to Dimitri’s piano lessons. He brings with him Beethoven’s tempest Sonata in D minor, he performs the final movement of the Sonata, to Dimitri’s dissatisfaction.

Dimitri – Interesting, was that it, where was the story, Beethoven was near to committing suicide, the way you performed it, could send a man to suicide.

Arthur – Why did you agree to teach me if I’m so bad.

Dimitri – I didn’t agree to teach you anything, I heard you play the piano, I heard fire, I heard passion, I heard sensitivity, without those quality’s no one can accomplish anything on the piano. You need the tools Arthur to become a great pianist, now come back in two months’ time, meanwhile I want you to meet someone very special, he will be expecting you.

Scene change, Arthur reaches his destination, an actor’s studio, where he meets a Shakespearean actor. Arthur rings the bell, an elderly man answer.

Arthur – Hello I’m here for the actor’s studio.

There is no answer, but the door opens automatically, Arthur enters, it’s an empty studio with a single chair.

Arthur – Hello is anyone there, Mr Rogers, I’m Arthur I was told you’d be expecting me.

Mr Rogers – kid do you read Shakespeare.

Arthur – Not often,

Mr Rogers – Too bad, do you read anything.

Arthur – I like short novels.

Mr Rogers – Good, well acting is very easy, you just need to be able to tell a story, without making it to obvious that you’re telling a story, you think you can do that.

Arthur – I think I can.

Mr Rogers – Good, here these are your lines, they are fairly simple I’m sure you can memorize them.

Arthur begins reading his lines, but he lacks the ability to engage the audience.

Arthur – Was that good enough.

Mr Rogers – Not exactly, you’re simply reading what is on the page, you’re not expressing it, read into it more, understand the character, become the character.

Arthur makes another attempt.

Arthur – Was that better.

Mr Roger – Good, now respond to me, I’ll go through my lines.

Arthur doesn’t seem to get the timing right, there is little flow.

Arthur – That was easy, I think I quite like acting.

Mr Rogers – All the world is a stage Arthur, we each have our entrance and exit, stage presence that I cannot teach, to capture an audience, ah that’s the glory of acting, the stage is the greatest place to be. Now let’s start from the beginning.

Arthur continues with his acting lessons for two months and then returns to Dimitri’s piano lesson with Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto, he performs the first movement to Dimitri. Dimitri lights a cigar and begins to cry a little, tears of joy, he doesn’t stop him this time.

Arthur – That’s all I’ve learnt so far, just the first movement.

Dimitri – Our lesson is over; I have nothing more to teach you.

Arthur – But we’ve barely had a single piano lesson.

Dimitri – Somethings cannot be taught, but your education is now complete Arthur, you can make your way out, I’ll call Elina later this evening, goodbye Arthur.

Dimitri walks away, all that is left is a trail of smoke from his cigar in the room.

Scene change, Arthur is back with Olga.

Olga – Is that what he said.

Arthur – Yes, I have nothing more to teach you, those were his words.

Olga – That doesn’t happen too often Arthur, you are the exception, and you are ready.

Arthur – Ready for what.

Olga – The Tchaikovsky piano competition.

Arthur – But that’s the biggest competition in the world,

Olga – It is, application for entry close the end of this month, we have eight weeks to prepare.

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