Without a Dowry
| Without a Dowry | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Aleksandr Ostrovsky |
| Date premiered | 10 November 1878 |
| Place premiered | Maly Theatre in Moscow |
| Original language | Russian |
| Genre | Realistic drama |
Without a Dowry (Russian: Бесприданница) is a play by Alexander Ostrovsky premiered on November 10, 1878 at the Maly Theater and first published in the January 1879 issue of Otechestvennye Zapiski. Met with indifference by the contemporary critics, later it came to be regarded as a Russian theatre classic.[1] Eldar Ryazanov had it adapted into a popular 1984 film.
History
According to the author's note, the idea of the play came to him on 4 November 1874, in Moscow. On 1 October 1876, informing his friend, the actor Fyodor Burdin about how his work on the Truth is Good But Happiness Better was going on, Ostrovsky wrote: "Now my attention and energy are focused on my next large play which I have been working upon since last year... I intend to finish it this year and am going to polish it with the utmost care for it will be my 40th original work." The play's manuscript has been marked by the author as "Opus 40".[2]
Next time Ostrovsky mentioned it in his 3 February 1878, letter to Burdin: "Now I am busy working on a large original play. I'd rather finish it this winter before the new season starts so as to have more spare time in the summer." Yet, he continued to work upon the play all through the summer and autumn in his Shchelykovo estate, all the while negotiating the terms for the future stage production. On 17 October 1878 the play was finished, on the 26th it was sent to Burdin, on the 28th – approved by the Theatre and Literature Committee.[2]
Burdin appeared to be unhappy with the part of Knurov which he deemed 'secondary' and suggested some cuts should be made in the text. Ostrovsky wrote back: "I've read the play in Moscow five times, among the audiences there were people whom I'd hardly call my friends, but all unanimously agreed that Without a Dowry was my best play to date. The idea of cutting anything in the text hasn't crossed anyone's mind. But you there, do cut whatever you will, I won't dispute it".[2]
Without a Dowry was premiered in Moscow's Maly Theater on 10 November 1878, as a benefit for the actor Nikolai Muzil (who played Robinson). Larisa was played by Glikeria Fedotova, Paratov by Alexander Lensky, Karandyshev by Mikhail Sadovsky, Knurov by Ivan Samarin. Several days later the play was performed for the second time, as a benefit for Prov Sadovsky, with Maria Yermolova as Larisa. Ostrovsky in a letter informed Burdin of the "great success" these two shows had. In Saint Petersburg Without a Dowry was performed for the first time on November 22, in the Alexandrinsky Theatre, as a benefit for Burdin. Maria Savina played Larisa and it was her inspired performance that drew all the attention. Otherwise the critical response was lukewarm.
In the early 1890s Without a Dowry was successfully revived on stage by Vera Komissarzhevskaya who created her own, unique version of the Larisa character. In the Soviet times the play was being staged regularly in numerous theaters, and in 1948 made a return to the Maly Theater repertoire.[2]
Synopsis
After a hard year spent in desperation, devastated by the abrupt (and unexplained) end of her romance with a rich man Paratov whom she was in love with and almost worshipped, Larisa decides to marry the first man who'd approach her. Karandyshev is a silly, obnoxious and vain person, but Larisa doesn't care much for that, wishing only to get away from it all and go to live to the country. Suddenly Paratov arrives in Bryakhimov [described as a "large city on the bank of the Volga River"] and causes a stir both in the local community and in the girl's heart. It turns out he's about to marry a rich woman and now enjoys his last bachelor spree, selling ships he owns to get money to burn. He finds out Larisa still loves him and realizes that his own feelings for her are still strong too.
Karandyshev, just to show off, throws a party, inviting among others a young man Vozhevatov (Larisa's childhood friend), local millionaire Knurov (who'd earlier told Larisa's mother he'd be willing to become her daughter's 'sponsor' and take her to Paris should she feel inclined that way; the mother is receptive to the offer) and Paratov himself. Paratov, to punish Karandyshev for being impolite and make Larisa see him for what he was, stages a kind of practical joke. Using his alcoholic actor friend's drinking prowess he makes the young man go drunk and make a fool of himself, making guests laugh at him openly. Leaving Karandyshev back, Paratov, Knurov and Vozhevatov take Larisa out for an overnight picnic.
As the party ends, Larisa approaches Paratov with the question and gets the straight answer: no, he won't marry her after all, for he is betrothed to that other woman. Larisa feels humiliated, betrayed and compromised. Feeling unable to return home and face her fiancé whom she now hates, she thinks of suicide. Knurov and Vozhevatov discuss her position among themselves too; they end up tossing a coin to decide whose luck it will be to take her on to a romantic trip to Paris, and the older man wins, but Larisa rejects his offer. Drunk Karandyshev appears with one of the Turkish pistols from his collection and implores Larisa to return home. Full of contempt, she refuses. In a fit of desperation, he draws the pistol and shoots her. Mortally wounded, she reaches for the pistol, trying to make it appear as if she shot herself, and even thanks her murderer. "You all are... good people and... I love you all," are her last words.
References
- ↑ Lakshin, Vladimir (1982). "Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky". Iskusstvo Publishers, Moscow. Life in Art series. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
- 1 2 3 4 Revyakin, A.I. "Without a Dawry (Бесприданница).". Commentaries. The Complete Alexander Ostrovsky. Vol. VIII. Plays 1877-1881. Khudozhestvennaya literature Publishers. Moscow, 1950. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
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