Subject
More on Dmitri Nabokov (fwd)
Date
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EDITORIAL NOTE: Luke Taylor, whose NABOKV-L "mini-review" (Dec. 3, 1997)
of the Dmitri Nabokov/Bill Buckley performance of the Nabokov/Wilson
correspondence, was graciously acknowledged by DN today, now sends a
second account of a Nabokovian encounter.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- -----------------
Dmitri Nabokov's kind response to my account of his performance with
William F. Buckley, Jr., at the Century Club, has encouraged me to send
another missive to the Nabokov list.
On 24 June, 1996, I was fortunate enough to attend a performance at
the Manhattan Theatre Club. The playbill reads:
Writers In Performance 95-96
The Literary Series of Manhattan Theatre Club
Lolita at 40
A Dramatic Reading of Passages from Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita
By Jeremy Irons
Introduced by Dmitri Nabokov
Curated by Helen Graves
Arranged by Jack Temchin
Irons's reading was masterly, but I have to admit that I enjoyed
the introduction by Dmitri Nabokov just as much. If memory serves, Dmitri
Nabokov shared an anecdote about having been approached by an Italian
newspaper for a piece about casting Lolita for the Kubrick film. He was
supposed to give his opinion on an array of nymphets, and the newspaper
would publish his conclusions as to their suitability to play Lolita. Mr.
Nabokov related, with good humor, his father¹s somewhat chagrined reaction
to this activity. For a dedicated amateur Nabokovian, it was a wonderful
evening.
After the performance, there was a dinner for contributors in a
private room at a nearby restaurant. Both Irons and Nabokov attended the
dinner. I was with a large group, mostly composed of women. None of the
women at my table could take their eyes off Jeremy Irons, but I was trying
to get up the nerve to introduce myself to Mr. Nabokov.
My girlfriend finally convinced me that I would regret it if I didn¹t
approach Mr. Nabokov. She accompanied me, and fortunately I had the
perfect opening line. I had just returned from St. Petersburg two weeks
before, so I was able to say, "Mr. Nabokov, it¹s a pleasure to meet you. I
was in St. Petersburg two weeks ago, and I saw a portrait of your
grandfather with the Czar."
Dmitri Nabokov was extremely friendly and charming. He kissed my
girlfriend¹s hand, which was enough to make her read Invitation to a
Beheading. After all, she now knew the translator.
Luke J. Taylor
ljt@dti.net
of the Dmitri Nabokov/Bill Buckley performance of the Nabokov/Wilson
correspondence, was graciously acknowledged by DN today, now sends a
second account of a Nabokovian encounter.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- -----------------
Dmitri Nabokov's kind response to my account of his performance with
William F. Buckley, Jr., at the Century Club, has encouraged me to send
another missive to the Nabokov list.
On 24 June, 1996, I was fortunate enough to attend a performance at
the Manhattan Theatre Club. The playbill reads:
Writers In Performance 95-96
The Literary Series of Manhattan Theatre Club
Lolita at 40
A Dramatic Reading of Passages from Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita
By Jeremy Irons
Introduced by Dmitri Nabokov
Curated by Helen Graves
Arranged by Jack Temchin
Irons's reading was masterly, but I have to admit that I enjoyed
the introduction by Dmitri Nabokov just as much. If memory serves, Dmitri
Nabokov shared an anecdote about having been approached by an Italian
newspaper for a piece about casting Lolita for the Kubrick film. He was
supposed to give his opinion on an array of nymphets, and the newspaper
would publish his conclusions as to their suitability to play Lolita. Mr.
Nabokov related, with good humor, his father¹s somewhat chagrined reaction
to this activity. For a dedicated amateur Nabokovian, it was a wonderful
evening.
After the performance, there was a dinner for contributors in a
private room at a nearby restaurant. Both Irons and Nabokov attended the
dinner. I was with a large group, mostly composed of women. None of the
women at my table could take their eyes off Jeremy Irons, but I was trying
to get up the nerve to introduce myself to Mr. Nabokov.
My girlfriend finally convinced me that I would regret it if I didn¹t
approach Mr. Nabokov. She accompanied me, and fortunately I had the
perfect opening line. I had just returned from St. Petersburg two weeks
before, so I was able to say, "Mr. Nabokov, it¹s a pleasure to meet you. I
was in St. Petersburg two weeks ago, and I saw a portrait of your
grandfather with the Czar."
Dmitri Nabokov was extremely friendly and charming. He kissed my
girlfriend¹s hand, which was enough to make her read Invitation to a
Beheading. After all, she now knew the translator.
Luke J. Taylor
ljt@dti.net