Summary

The next section is titled Act 3, Leningrad. Sasha had choices about her future because her final grade was high. She had come to feel Moscow was “too familiar, too provincial, too much like Ivanovo” and chose the Bolshoi Drama Theatre in Leningrad. She also wants to leave because her relationship with Sergey has become predictable. Lara and Slava also go to Leningrad. The state-mandated pay is poor, but she is granted an apartment of her own. One day, Sergey asks to meet her. She feels he has aged in their short time apart. He has left his wife and wants to live with Sasha. She feels no attraction and walks away. Sasha's first role is a cleaning woman. The play is a comedy and her performance, though speechless, makes the audience laugh. She spends time with her two friends from Moscow, Lara and...