Pyotr Fomenko Workshop Theater: Without a Dowry

A Drama in Four Acts with an intermission, running time: 3 h 20 m, prime January 5, 2008
Ticket price range 500—15000 rub.

Author — Alexander Ostrovsky
Producing Director — Pyotr Fomenko
Director — Valius Tertelis
Stage Design — Vladimir Maximov
Costume Design — Maria Danilova
Lighting Design — Vladislav Frolov
Musical Direction — Marina Raku

Upcoming Performances

October, 29, 19:00

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November, 16, 19:00

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Pyotr Fomenko’s stage production of the well-known play by the great 19th century Russian playwright Alexander Ostrovsky does away with all the rules of its usual comprehension. The colours are subdued, and the stage sets are minimalistic. There are no melodramatics here, no boisterous merchants, and no languid songs. Still, there are songs, but they are bitter, terrifying, desperate. And the Gypsies, as written by Ostrovsky, remind one of the flock of Macbethian witches.

Awards
Nominated for the Golden Mask Prize in the “Drama/Best Large Scale Production” category, 2009
Pyotr Fomenko was nominated for the Golden Mask Prize in the “Drama/Best Director” category, 2009
Polina Agureeva won the Golden Mask Prize in the “Drama/Best Actress” category, 2009
Yevgeny Tsyganov was nominated for the Golden Mask Prize in the “Drama/Best Actor” category, 2009

Without a Dowry seems like a watershed moment for the Fomenko Workshop Theater. (Ostrovsky himself considered it a turning point). Pyotr Fomenko has directed a very severe and bitter production about human ruthlessness and false, surrogate, perverted values, be that morality, reputation or an honest merchant’s word. He speaks about the world, where the person’s “price” is equal to his financial, not spiritual spending. Working as if with a polishing stone, Fomenko clears away all the romantic gold-plating of this play.: Olga Fuks, Evening Moscow

Characters and Cast

Cast for
all
October 29

Kharita Ignatyevna Ogudalova ,
middle-aged widow; dressed elegantly, but boldly and too young for her years
Natalia Kurdyubova
Larisa Dmitrievna,
her daughter, a young woman dressed well but modestly
Polina Agureeva
Mokii Parmenych Knurov,
a major man of modern business, elderly, with a huge fortuneAlexei Kolubkov
Vasily Danilych Vozhevatov,
very young man, a representative of a wealthy commercial enterprise; dressed like a EuropeanTomas Mockus
Yulii Kapitonych Karandyshev,
young clerk, not wealthy
Yevgeny Tsyganov
Sergei Sergeich Paratov,
a glamorous nobleman from a shipping family, over 30
Ilya Lyubimov
Robinson
Vladimir Toptsov
Yevfrosinia Potapovna,
Karandyshev’s auntGalina Kashkovskaya
Gavrilo,
barkeeper and owner of the cafe on the boulevardSergei Yakubenko
Ivan,
Waiter in cafeFyodor Malyshev
Tomas Mockus
Ilya the GypsyYury TitovArtyom Tsukanov
Old Gypsy WomenPolina AirapetovaMaria BolshovaYelena VoronchikhinaNatalia MartynovaSerafima OgaryovaYekaterina SmirnovaDarya Konyzheva
Musical accompanimentAnton Sergeev
Formerly in the cast:
Vasily Danilych Vozhevatov,
very young man, a representative of a wealthy commercial enterprise; dressed like a European
Andrei ShchennikovPavel Barshak
Ilya the GypsyBoris GorbachyovFyodor Malyshev
Old Gypsy WomenManana MenabdeAnn-Dominique CrettaLyudmila DolgorukovaAnna RodionovaIrina GorbachyovaMonica SantoroEva BrennerTatyana MaslennikovaLouisa MintsaevaMarina Raku