Lyrics The Private and Intimate Life of the House - The Great Comet Original Cast

The Private and Intimate Life of the House

BOLKONSKY: I’ve aged
I’ve aged so very much
I fall asleep at the table
My napkin drops to the floor
I’m full of childish vanities
I forget things
And I live in the past
I’ve aged so very much
People enjoy me though
I come in for tea in my old-fashioned coat
and powered wig
And I tell stories
And utter scathing critiques
This old-fashioned house
With its gigantic mirrors and powered footmen
And this stern, shrewd old man
A relic of the past century
With his gentle daughter
Is a majestic and agreeable spectacle
MARY: But besides the couple hours during which we have guests
There are also twenty-two hours in the day
During which the private and intimate life of the house continues
BOLKONSKY: Bring me my slippers
MARY: Yes father yes father
BOLKONSKY: Bring me my wine
MARY: Yes father yes father
Oh father
And I never go anywhere
Never invited
For who would take care of him
Who would take care
MARY & BOLKONSKY: And I have no friends
No no no
BOLKONSKY: Girl, all my friends are dead
MARY: No one
BOLKONSKY: All my friends are dead
MARY: Time is moving
It’s now or never
My fate is slipping past me
BOLKONSKY: Silence!
Silence!
MARY: Yes father yes father
BOLKONSKY: You shut your damn mouth girl
Shut your damn mouth
I can hurt you
MARY & BOLKONSKY: I can hurt you
MARY: But I never ever ever ever would
This is just how it is
It’s just how he is
I’m always to blame
He could beat me
Or treat me like a dog
Make me fetch wood or water
And that’s just how it is
Oh father
I love you father
Time is moving
It’s now or never
I’ve abandoned the hope of getting married
BOLKONSKY: Ah!
What’s this, a young suitor?
Ah, come in come in
But don’t sit down
Don’t sit down
I’m cold to you
Yes I’m mean to you
Now be gone be gone be gone
And don’t come back!
Maybe I’ll marry someone myself
Some cheap French thing
Oh that offends you does it?
Ah, come in my dear, come in my dear, come in
MARY: And he draws her to him
And he kisses her hand
Embraces her affectionately
And I flush and run out of the room
BOLKONSKY: Come back here
Let an old man have his fun
Wipe away your tears girl
I don’t want your tears
MARY: On that horrible woman
Vile and inhuman
She’s using you, Papa
Wants your money Papa
To take advantage of your weakness like that
It’s disgusting
My voice breaks
BOLKONSKY: It’s my money
And I’ll throw it where I want
Not at you!
And not at Andrey’s harlot!
It’s my money, my money,
Mine all mine!
Insolent girl!
Insolent girl!
Where-?
Where-?
Where, Where are my glasses?
Where, where are they?!
Where are my glasses?!
Oh God-
Oh God I’m frightened
Oh God I’ve aged,
I’ve aged so very much
Where are my glasses?!
where are they?!
where?!
Where are my glasses?
where are they?
where?
Where are my glasses?!
MARY: They’re there upon his head
They’re there upon his head
The pride of sacrifice
Gathers in my soul
They’re there upon his head
And he forgets things
He lives in the past
He falls asleep at the table
His napkin drops to the floor
His shaking head
Sinks over his plate
He is old and feeble
And I dare to judge him
I disgust myself
I disgust myself