The birthday programme
When the programme started, a little boy of about ten years played the trombone. Then everybody clapped. After his performance, one or two speakers addressed the guests.Then came a theatre group wearing masks. They performed for an hour. After the theatre group, other groups came to sing songs and perform various acts. The participants would point at President Gorbachev and then sing their songs. When the songs were over, about ten or twelve people spoke, including a man who was a general in Afghanistan when President Gorbachev was in office. His name is Ruslan Aushev. He is now President of Ingushetia, one of the republics of the Russian Federation.
One man went to the stage and said, “I wish to sing a song dedicated to Raisa Maximovna.” At that time, President Gorbachev came and stood beside him. How soulfully the man sang! He took us all to Heaven.
One lady who came up was dressed exactly like the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Her hair and everything about her appearance was perfect. Everybody was joking that Margaret Thatcher had come to President Gorbachev’s birthday celebration. She spoke with a British accent. People were so charmed to see “Margaret Thatcher”!
Then one man came up and started imitating President Gorbachev and Yeltsin alternately. He would speak like President Gorbachev, and then reply like Yeltsin. He was exactly imitating both their voices.
Like this, the performances continued throughout the evening.
