DRAMATIST
VALENTIN KRASNOGOROV
AND
HIS PLAYS
The name of Krasnogorov is well
known to theater-goers of Russia. His
plays Let’s Have Sex!, The Dog, Small Tragedies, The Delights Of Adultery,
Somebody Must Leave, Now Or Never, Love Medicine, Several Hours From The Life
Of A Man And A Woman, That Weak Gentle Sex, The Bride's Room, A Cruel Lesson, et
al. are warmly met by critics and audience. Up to now bout 30 plays of him have
been performed in more than 300 theaters.
The creative dramatic skills of
the author span a wide arc. He has
displayed a superb mastery of many kinds of plays. Biting satire, a keen sense of humor both
grotesque and absurd, lyricism, and a knowledge of the human heart - these are
the main features of Krasnogorov's theatre pieces. The tensions and conflicts
of his plays are set off by his style of lively and easy dialogue, dynamics,
and intensive action. The author uses
paradoxical situations and unusual plots to involve readers and audiences into
the worlds, created by his imagination.
The plays of V. Krasnogorov are
contained in the permanent repertoire of many theatres and are sometimes played
several hundreds times. They are
enthusiastically received by audiences.
Critics noticed that " Krasnogorov's plays cross borders easily". For this reason, many of them have been
translated into foreign languages and staged in
theatres, on radio and on TV of different countries. His plays were
staged by the most famous theater directors of Russia.
V. Krasnogorov is President of the Damatists Guild of St. Petersburg, member of the Writers Union of Russia; member of the Russian Union of the Theater Workerss. His biograghy is included in the dictionaries “Marquis Who’s Who in the World”, USA, "International Who's Who of Intellectuals", England, CamBridge, et. al.
Theater Posters to Krasnogorov’s
plays
Cities, where Krasnogorov’s plays have been staged (map)
PLAYS AND SCREENPLAYS
A.
THE PLAYS TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH
PREMIERE AFTER PARTY The curtains have just closed on the long-awaited
premiere of Shakespeare’s Othello and the actors remain on stage to celebrate
opening night. Unfortunately, the party is marred by a mysterious death and,
and every of the participants of this cocktail party is the prime suspect.
Gloomy, yet humorous, with ‘whodunnit’ intrigue plot twists and an unexpected
finale; Cocktail After Premiere is riveting until the very end.
The world premiere was staged in 2010 by Russia’s most
famous theatre director - Roman Viktyuk - to critical acclaim and has been
hailed as an enormous success. 4 men and 3 women. Interior
LET'S HAVE SEX! Every personage of this strange, absurd play
talks and thinks only about sex. But the frivolous title of this comedy is
delusive: the drama is complicated, tragic, and at the same time, amusing. It
is difficult to define the genre of this play. It may be called both a
psychological drama, and a theater of the absurd, a play that deals with
paradox, a philosophical play…. It may be defined as a comedy, but it will not
be a mistake to call it also a tragedy. The characters come from nowhere and
leave to nowhere. They are familiar to each other and at the same time seem to
see each other for the first time. There are 5 characters in the play: the
Husband, the Wife, the Sister, the Girl, and the Professor. They are quite real
and authentic. At the same time, it is difficult to understand, whether the
Wife really is someone’s wife, the Professor – a real professor, etc. There is
no plot in the traditional meaning of the word. The play is constructed on the
principle of a rondo: movement goes in a circle, or, more precisely, along a
spiral. The characters’ actions are motivated by loneliness, by their yearning
for love and emotion, their desire to escape from their problems. Or maybe all
these conversations are simply the product of a deranged mind? The play has
been staged in 2003 in Moscow by the most famous theater director of Russia,
Roman Viktyuk, and is an enormous success. The play is also performed by
theaters of Australia, Bolgaria, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, India,
Montenegro, Rumania, and Ukraina. 2 men and 3 women. Interior .
THE CRUEL LESSON - drama about social and
psychological roots of cruelty, about the invisible line dividing moral actions
from immoral ones. A real psychological experiment, which has been carried out
in the USA and has received world wide attention, forms the basis of the play.
Under a professor's guidance students torture a woman. All four of the
participants of the strange experiments are interwoven by personal relations.
Dynamic plot commands the rapt attention of the audience. 2 men ,2 women.
Interior .
SMALL
TRAGEDIES. - a triptych of short
plays of a keen philosophical content.
They are written in a very modern style with a great imaginative
force. The idea of the plays is how
difficult it is for men to hear and understand each other. An unusual
theatrical form arouses great audience interest. The play was first presented by the famous
Big Drama Theatre in St. Petersburg and enjoyed major critical and popular
success. The story. 1. Pelicans Of The Wilderness.
Four quite independent lines of action are simultaneously developed in
this short play: a girl meeting her
lover, a lonely man who requests a doctor's visit to have a human being to talk with, a blind
man who is abandoned by his companion, and an old woman waiting in vain for
help. All the lines form a whole, which is full of passion and meaning. 2. What Are You Thinking Of? A man and his wife are talking during
their dinner, but their words don't matter. While talking the man dreams of
freedom, love, fame, happiness, and his dreams materialize on the scene. 3. The Wall. A man and his wife discover one morning that
an invisible wall has risen between them. In spite of all their attempts they
cannot get over it. This short play - a dialog between the two, who can't even
hear each other. 4 men and 3 women . Interior .
THE DELIGHTS OF ADULTERY.
– A trio of skillfully interconnected short plays which offer three
contrasting scenes from the life of a lovers' couple. The plays may be presented either singly (as
is done in the world famous Big Drama Theatre in St. Petersburg), or as a
three-act play. Easy dialogue,
paradoxical plot, comical, sometimes farcical situations, and dramatic skill
keep audience spellbound until the last word of the play. DELIGHTS OF ADULTERY are staged at the very
popular Maly Drama Theatre, St. Petersburg.
More than 400 performances have been given to date. The story. 1. The wedding is to be tomorrow. The happy
bride is in the embrace of her lover, but...he is not her bridegroom. They are
to decide what to do next. 2. The lovers
have a rendezvous in the man's apartment. 3. The lovers meet again, maybe for
the last time. The love and happiness are gone. Why? And who is to blame? 1 man, 1 woman . Interior .
THE DOG. There are 3 characters in this drama: a man, a woman and ... a dog (who is to be
played by a child or by an actress). The
action turns on a simple premise: the
man wants to have his dog killed and leads it
to a veterinary station, where the woman works. The dog hinders his lifestyle - but can love and faithfulness hinder anybody? Character of the woman - biting, and sometimes aggressive, but unselfish, ready to
love and to help - determined the play's
title. This touching play is presented
by many theatres with great success.
A Note From
the Director Howard Fishman:
“The American Theater
Company is proud to introduce itself to New York City with our production of The
Dog by Valentin Krasnogorov, the first mounting of this unique and
challenging play on any American stage.
My feeling for The
Dog has not changed since my first encounter with it several years ago,
when I read it on the advice of its translator while living in New Orleans.
What I admire it most for is its nobility of spirit, and for the heart that
beats so vulnerably within it. Unquestionably it is a difficult play – thorny
and elusive, afraid and uncertain. But it is brave enough to admit all these
things, and to display them on a stage where we all can recognize those parts
of ourselves, which we try so hard to keep hidden.
There is no hero or villain
here. We are them and they are us. We all have our different ideas of what life
and love mean, of what is necessary to achieve “happiness”. At one time or
another, we all had to lie in the dark and face the fury of our conscience. We
make choices in life, and for better or worse, we turn around one day to
discover that our lives may be defined by these choices. There is no right or
wrong, there is simply decision and consequence. We justify, we rationalize,
and, sometimes, we even believe ourselves. It the end it is we who must live
and abide by those choices we make, which is perhaps the greatest judgment of
all. Or the damnedest.
I hope you enjoy the play.”
THE FALL OF DON_JUAN.
This play combines elements of drama
and comedy.
Bride and groom, who are also
successful business partners, are forced by circumstances to offer a total
stranger (an aging, oddly behaving man) the role of a witness in their wedding
ceremony. To kill time, the young couple asks their witness to tell them about
women he loved. The result turns out to be quite unexpected. This accidental
meeting dramatically changes the fates of all three characters. The play is performed in several countries
with great success. 3 characters: 2 males, 1 female.
B.
THE PLAYS IN RUSSIAN
AN INVITATION TO A MURDER. A
classic detective play. 6 members of parliament come for a week-end to a lonely
remote villa to discuss a hard political situation. A series of unexpected
murders takes place at this secluded home.
6 men and 3 women. Interior.
BABEL. Screenplay.
A modern version of the Bible story about the Babel Tower.
HIS CASANOVA LIST. A bride and
bridegroom ask a strange elderly unknown man, whom they met accidentally, to be
witness of their wedding. This meeting drastically changes the fate of all the
personnages of the play. 2 men and 1 woman. Exterior.
IMMODEST
DESIRES. A comedy with elements of
grotesque. Its personages, mainly women, dream of personal happiness,
but find something other than what they expected. Realities of hasty life of
business and practical XXI century force them to say goodbye to the ideals of
the past. 2 men, 5 (3) women (three roles can be played
by one actress).
LOVE MEDICINE. The story of this ironical comedy takes
place at the time of the Golden Age of Spain, with its duels, serenades
etc. In reality it is a very modern play
about love. This clever, hilarious,
high-spirited comedy is a long-run success in many drama and musical
theatres. 7 men, 3 women. Exterior .
NOT TOMORROW, BUT SOON. A grotesque distopic comedy. The protagonist
finds himself in unfamiliar and strange surroundings, while seeming equaly
strange to the people around. The main question is whether the maddness
afflicts the protagonist himself, or the society surrounding him. 9 male
roles, 2 female roles. If nessecary the male roles could be played by a smaller
number of actors.
NOW OR NEVER (PROCESSION OF
GNOMES). An investigation of modern marriage in the
form of a brilliant comedy, bitter and very funny. The critics appreciated the "keen sense
and wit of this hilarious, but clever and warning play", its
"well-made construction and sparkling dialogue". The story. A man (about 30) and his wife invite their
friend and girl friend to a party. The four are interconnected with complicated
love relationships and each of them wants to sort out his future: tonight or
never. 2 men and 2 women. Interior .
SEVERAL HOURS IN THE LIFE OF A
MAN AND A WOMAN.- a sad and funny comedy.
This warm and rich play, full of compassion and understanding of the
human heart, was presented with great success at the prestigious Alexander
Theatre in St. Petersburg - the biggest and oldest theatre of Russia. Reviewers noted that the "play offers an
excellent material for actors". The
story. A circus athlete, who is
renting a room in a woman's house, falls in love with her. Tired of his
migratory life he wants to marry the woman, leave the circus forever and begin
a new life, peaceful and happy, in a house of his own. The woman is also tired
of her loneliness. Their happiness is almost at hands, but... 1 man, 1 woman .Interior .
SHOW-BOOTH. A modern play in the
style of Commedia del arte, based on improvisation of actors and their
direct contact with the audience. 2 men and 1 woman . Interior .
SILENT NIAGARA. A Tragicomedy. A
man on the brink of breakdown, frustrated by his work, family and life, tries
to find some peace and solace in the quiet nature. However, that very path
leads him to various tragicomic adventures. 3 male roles, 4 female roles,
crowd.
SOMEONE MUST LEAVE. A sharp satire, written in a grotesque,
almost absurd manner. Quick, witty,
unexpected dialogue in a "staccato" style adds a particular charm to
the comedy. The story. 7 employees work at an office and all of them
- except one talented shy young man - are doing nothing. But - sudden news! -
one of the staff is to be discharged. After a desperate struggle and
complicated intrigues it is discovered that the only man who really does his
work has to be let go. 4 men, 3 women in an interior setting.
SONG OF SONGS. - A play based on
the Bible story about the king Salomo. 7 men and 2 women.
THAT WEAK GENTLE GENDER. - set of two very funny short plays. These well-constructed, fast-moving farces,
reminding us of the times of Rabelais and Le Sage, are staged with success by
many drama and musical theatres. The
story. 1. A small Night
Serenade. The wife of an old doctor
falls in love with a young boy. She finds a way to deceive her strict
husband. 2. The Silent Wife. A man invites a doctor for his young, good
but dumb wife. The man wants her to be cured. In vain the doctor tries to
dissuade the husband. The man insists. The physician restores the wife's
speech. She begins talking non-stop
until the husband goes mad. He asks the doctor to make his wife dumb again, but
there are no ways to make her silent. 2
men, 3 women. Interior.
THE BEILIS CASE. A
theatrical representation of a world-famous criminal trial which took place in
1913. Beilis, a Jew from Kiev, Ukraine, was accused of murdering a Christian
boy. Surging anti-Semitic forces in
Russia aimed at condemning Beilis in order to provoke huge Jewish pogroms. The Beilis case attracted world wide
attention. The best lawyers of the time
took part in the proceedings. The play
is very timely today, while national problems are severe. 19 men and 6 women . If necessary the
play can be played by 12 actors.
THE BRIDE'S ROOM. - dramatic comedy. Only women (aged from 15
to 70) act. in this unusual play. The
bride, her mother, sister, and girl-friends, as well as other women - relatives
of the bridegroom - are gathering in the "bride's room" of a palace
for marriage registration (as it is customary in the Russia). But nobody knows where bridegroom is. Pending his arrival, the events of this play
develop. There have been hundreds of performances of the play in Russian
theatres. 16 characters of this comedy
can be played, if necessary, by 12 actresses.
THE GATES OF HEAVEN. Several men and women are fighting to the
death one with another… for what? They do not know! 5 men and 4 women . Exterior.
THE LEGS OF WOMAN #2. Screenplay.
A fantasmagory story from the life of contemporary Russia.
THE LOT. - A short play based on
an episode from the Jewish history - a tragic culmination of the struggle for
the Mazada fortress. 2 men and 1 woman.
THE LOVE TO DISTRACTION. A
comedy. A man, suffering from loss of memory, comes to a doctor. The doctor
tries to find out symptoms and reasons of the disease, but unsuccessfully: the
answers of the patient are so inconsistent that it is impossible to understand
anything. Fortunately, the doctor manages to invite the wife of the patient.
She answers all questions clearly and confidently, but from her explanations
follows that the doctor himself suffers from loss of memory. The situation is
even more confused when another woman comes unexpectedly and declares as well,
that she is the spouse of the patient. The situation becomes completely absurd.
The doctor is almost going mad. This dynamical and ridiculous comedy is
developing promptly and vividly, coming to an unexpected end. 3 men, 2
women. Interior.
The Rendezvous On Wednesdays. Satirical play with a farcical
plot in the style of French la piece bien faite – "well-made play". The adultery intrigue
is combined with
a passionate desire of the personages to make their career. The plays won a grand
success in the theaters. 3 men, 3 women in an interior setting.
THE SWAN SONG. A synthesis of ironic, almost absurd comedy and melodrama. The main personages of the play are in the
age of summing up. 2 men, 10 women in an interior setting.
THE WOMAN WHO DID NOT
EXIST. Screenplay. There is a
surprising episode in the history of the Papacy which has caused many legends
and disputes. It is known that only a man can be elected as the Pope. However a
legend asserts that once a woman, having given herself out to be a man, became
the Pope and successfully occupied the Holy See during ten years. To be a head
of the Christian world was a hard task in those years. However, the ruling of
the Papesse was very successful. The history informs us only about the major
results of the church and political activity of this exclusive woman. However,
we know nothing about papesse's private life, about her character, about her
road to the power. Therefore, the story about her course of life, about her
love and sufferings, about her dizzy ascension to the top of the world public
pyramid is only a subject of the art fiction based on the realities of that
time. The screenplay reflects the main steps of the heroine's life: youth, the
first love, her decision to pretend to be a man, her struggle for the Holy See,
her election as the Pope and her activity in this quality, her searches for
happiness. The screenplay gives a good material for an actress. She has a rare
opportunity to play both the woman and the man in a serious non-standard role.
THEATRICAL COMEDY. An evening
performance of a classical play of ХVШ age has already began, but the
performer of one of the main roles has not yet come. He is urgently replaced by
another actor, who doesn’t know the role. It results with numerous tragicomic situations. The plot is complicated with
personal conflicts Love, hate, envy, jealousy and flirt of the actors give an
additional colour to the comical plot. 3 men and 1 woman.
THREE-CORNERED ROLLS. -
a purimspiel. 4 men and 1 woman.
Contacts:
Tel. 8-812-699-3701;
+7-951-689-3-689
(972)
53-527-4246, (972) 53-527-4242
e-mail: valentin.krasnogorov@gmail.com
My site:
http://www.krasnogorov.com/