It is with a certain heavy-heartedness, seasoned with a pinch of irony, that we must report the recent misfortune of Madame Maria Poroshina. It appears the dear lady has been conveyed to the infirmary, having fallen prey to an ischemic attack—a most unwelcome guest, indeed. One cannot help but observe that the pressures of fame, coupled with a rebellious thyroid gland and a most erratic blood pressure, have conspired to deprive her of her usual composure.

As the gossip-mongers in the digital salons of the hour are already whispering, the actress—known to the public for her roles in such curiosities as 'Night Watch' and 'The Brigade'—found herself suddenly indisposed. One imagines the scene: a sudden swoon, a flurry of concerned attendants, and the inevitable rush to the physician's care.

But alas, the tragedy of the theatrical life is that such ailments are becoming quite the vogue. We are reminded that another lady of the boards, Madame Ekaterina Volkova, has also found herself confined to a hospital bed. Though she remains as silent as a tomb regarding the particulars of her condition, the society pages are, as always, buzzing with a most exquisite curiosity.

How fragile is the constitution of those who live for the applause of the crowd! One wonders if these ladies might find more peace in a quiet garden with a cup of tea and some sweets, far from the exhausting demands of the limelight.