Dramatis Personae
Akím. Nikíta’s father, fifty years old, a plain-looking, God-fearing peasant
Matryóna. His wife and Nikíta’s mother, fifty years old
Marína. An orphan girl, twenty-two years old
Martha. Peter’s sister
Mítritch. An old labourer, ex-soldier
Simon. Marína’s husband
Bridegroom. Engaged to Akoulína
Iván. His father
A neighbour
First girl
Second girl
Police officer
Driver
Best man
Matchmaker
Village elder
Visitors, women, girls, and people come to see the wedding
N.B.—The “oven” mentioned is the usual large, brick, Russian baking-oven. The top of it outside is flat, so that more than one person can lie on it.
The Power of Darkness
The Power of Darkness
Or, If a Claw Is Caught the Bird Is Lost
Act I
Act I
The Act takes place in autumn in a large village. The Scene represents Peter’s roomy hut. Peter is sitting on a wooden bench, mending a horse-collar. Anísya and Akoulína are spinning, and singing a part-song.
Curtain.
Act II
Act II
The scene represents the village street. To the left the outside of Peter’s hut, built of logs, with a porch in the middle; to the right of the hut the gates and a corner of the yard buildings. Anísya is beating hemp in the street near the corner of the yard. Six months have elapsed since the First Act.
Curtain.
Act III
Act III
The same hut. Winter. Nine months have passed since Act II. Anísya, plainly dressed, sits before a loom weaving. Nan is on the oven.
That’s enough! What have you to do with her? Don’t mind her. You look at me! I am the master! I do as I like. I’ve ceased to love her, and now I love you. I love who I like! The power is mine, she’s under me. That’s where I keep her. Points to his feet. A pity we’ve no concertina. Sings.
“We have loaves on the stoves,
We have porridge on the shelf.
So we’ll live and be gay,
Making merry every day,
And when death comes,
Then we’ll die!
We have loaves on the stoves,
We have porridge on the shelf …”
Curtain.
Act IV
Act IV
Autumn. Evening. The moon is shining. The stage represents the interior of courtyard. The scenery at the back shows, in the middle, the back porch of the hut. To the right the winter half of the hut and the gate; to the left the summer half and the cellar. To the right of the stage is a shed. The sound of tipsy voices and shouts are heard from the hut.5 Second Neighbour Woman comes out of the hut and beckons to First Neighbour Woman.
See at end of Act, Variation, which may be used instead of the following.
Curtain.
Variation
Instead of the end of Act IV the following variation may be read, and is the one usually acted.
Scene II
The interior of the hut as in Act I.
Nan lies on the bench, and is covered with a coat. Mítritch is sitting on the oven smoking.
Curtain.