In 1975, Mark Zakharov put Chekhov's "Ivanov" with Evgeny Leonov in the title role, in the 76th Efremov calls to the Moscow Art Theatre for this role Smoktunovsky. The TV show in Moscow Art Theater was filmed in 81, but the production with Leonov cannot be found. It is a pity, because I want to see how Leonov played someone whom he has never played.
In the performance of Efremov, the wonderful Mkhatov Guard is Ekaterina Vasilyeva, Vyacheslav Nevinny, and less, unfortunately, we know Andrei Popov, Mark Prudkin, Angelina Stepanova. But most importantly, Smoktunovsky. He almost silently plays the tragedy of a beautiful man. Noble Ivanov is catastrophically lonely. The state of the actor on stage cannot be described, you will slide into pathos and vulgarity. One can only cite a story about how difficult the rehearsals were and Smoktunovsky, married to Sulamifi Kushnir, refused to pronounce Chekhov’s “Zhidovka, you will soon die!”. He did not want to say it at all, overpowered himself and then, as Yefremov said, ran around the scenery and shouted: What did I say?! God, what am I? What am I? (", Life and Roles)