Xmx is capable of voicing any text (well, not voicing, interpreting it), whether it is Shakespeare's or Chekhov's. There is just one single word he cannot say: no. He is solicited by a TV station for two lines consisting of three words; he would like to tell the producer he can't, because he has rehearsals at the theater, then he must go on stage, and his wife is expecting the first baby, but when he sees the pale weary face of the producer and his dim looks, when he understands that, in addition to his hoarse voice, all this is the consequence of many nights of hard, uninterrupted work, he accepts. "How much do I get?" he asks, just for the hell of it. Next to zilch, comes the fully responsible reply. For two lines, come on… A middle-aged film director begs him to accept the part of a bald kind-hearted little old man in a feature film. Xmx would like to tell him too about his rehearsals and performances at the theater, that he has another part to play on TV, that his wife is expecting their first baby, but the director gives him a long glance (it's his first feature film): you won't do this little pushover for me? The actor bows (his head), vanquished. How can he say no to a former university mate who shared the same piece of course? But there comes another director – in fact, it is his assistant who comes – and solicits him to go a few times back and forth before the camera on horseback, in another movie. Can he possibly communicate to the maestro, who was once his professor somehow, that he has rehearsals to go to and stage performances, a part to play on TV and another part in another movie, that his wife is giving birth to their first baby? He can't. Then a student of cinematography is making a short movie for his graduation exam and needs him for the leading part. You can't turn down a young student who one day could become a Fellini. But when they call from the radio station, he is determined to decline the offer: please, I would very much like to, but I've got these rehearsals, and the shows… "We're so finicky about a mute's part, aren't we?!" asks the radio show director, not without a shade of sarcasm. "You come two or three times, say nothing, earn nothing, that's all!" Well, Xmx gives in, after all it's an easy part, I say nothing, I'm paid nothing…And the race begins: after the rehearsals at the theater he jumps into a cab and hurries to the TV station, says quickly the two lines, runs to Băneasa forest where the student's movie is being shot, a car is waiting for him there which takes him to Buftea studios, he's already a bit late, he turns briskly into the little old man, after having grown bald on his way to the studio, they shoot one take, two takes, five, eight, he risks missing the flight to Timişoara, where a horse is awaiting him for the ride back and forth before the camera, finally he catches the plane, lands in Timişoara, goes up in saddle, only this time it is not baldness they need, but long curls, so he lets his hair grow, acts, the horse stumbles, they shoot again, Xmx falls asleep on the horse, the director yells, they take another take, he must catch the Bucharest flight, from the airport he scurries to the radio station and plays the mute's part with a great deal of self-possession, then again to the theater, rehearsals, shows, shootings, TV, radio, post-synchronization, the opening night, the make-up booth, Timişoara, Suceava, bald, hairy, on horseback, without a horse…When eventually he gets home, his concerned wife is asking, "Shall we let our daughter (who in the meantime was born) get married?" And Xmx cannot say no.
by Dumitru Solomon (1932-2003)
