A Petersburg Poem

Author: F.M.Dostoevsky

Director: Valery Fokin

in a stage version by Alexandre Zavyalov and Valery Fokin

"Double", a new production by Valery Fokin, is the first (in the history of theater) staging of "Petersburg poem" by Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, the most mysterious and fantastic work of this writer. There were radio and television versions, there is even a film, directed by B.Bertolucci, where the plot from "The Double" is used, but the action is transferred into present. However, Dostoevsky"s poem is inseparatable from the very atmosphere of Petersburg, from its topography, from its typical characters, who go through their inner tragedies in the metaphorical space of "the most artificial city" in the world.

The action of  "The Double" unfolds on the Fontanka embankments, near Izmailovsky, Semenovsky and Anichkov bridges, in the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, that is next to today's Lomonosov square (near the former Chernyshev bridge), in the restaurant, located in Apraksin alley, in the gallery of Gostiny Dvor, in Nevsky prospekt, in Shestilavochnaya street (now Mayakovsky street). The route of the department clerk Mr.Golyadkin may completely coincide with our today"s ordinary routes, the same way as "Golyadkins" can live in all of us, absorbed by numerous involuntary complexes, unreasonable claims and offences.

Dostoevsky had his own permanent seats in Alexandrinsky Theatre, creative work of the masters of the renowned stage inspired the writer, who frequently came here, both in youth and in mature years. Performances based on Dostoevsky"s novels were a big success in Alexandrinsky Theatre. "Gambler", "Idiot", "Unckle"s Sleep" were staged here...

For Valerie Fokin "The Double" is the second part of Petersburg two-part work, started with the staging of Gogol"s "Overcoat", realized in the beginning of this season in Moscow theater "Sovremennik" and starring Marina Neelova.

"The Double" is a synthetic play, where drama, music, singing, suppleness actively interact. Scene designer Alexandre Borovsky, composer Alexandre Bakshi and choreographer Sergey Gritsai became artistic, creative partners of Valery Fokin in his work on Petersburg poem. Ivan Blagoder is a musical director and assistant director of the play.

C A S T:

Mr. Golyadkin, Yakov Petrovich -                                Vitaly KOVALENKO  
Titled clerk

Mr. Golyadkin-the younger,                                       
also Yakov Petrovich, the double of Mr. Golyadkin        Dmitry LYSENKOV

Petrushka, Mr. Golyadkin's valet                                 Andrey MATUKOV  

Andrey Filippovich, manager of the government
office in which Mr. Golyadkin is employed                    Arkady VOLGIN

Anton Antonovich Setochkin, desk chief                       Vladimir LISETSKY

His Excellency                                                           Semyon SYTNIK

Clara Olsufyevna, daughter                                        Yelena ZIMINA
of Olsufii Ivanovich                                                    Yulia MARCHENKO

Her mother                                                               Galina KARELINA

Vladimir Semyonovich,                                              Mikhail DOLGININ
nephew of Andrey Filippovich

Gerasimych, butler to Olsufii Ivanovich                       Rudolf KULD

Clerks                                                                     Stepan BALAKSHIN
                                                                              Sergey YELIKOV
                                                                              Oleg EREMIN
                                                                              Evgeny KAPITONOV
                                                                              Pyotr KOVALEV
                                                                              Vladimir KOLGANOV
                                                                              Iosif KOSHELEVICH
                                                                              Tikhon ZHIZNEVSKY
                                                                                                                                                           

Female clerks                                                          Olga GILVANOVA
                                                                              Galina EGOROVA
                                                                              Lyudmila LUBIMOVA
                                                                              Marina ROSLOVA
                                                                              Svetlana SHEYCHENKO
 

Musicians: Igor ZALIVALOV, Dmitry ZOTIN, Alexander KAN, Konstantin KOLESNIKOV, Givi SARKISYAN, Alexander SHCHERBAKOV, Ilya YURSHEVICH

Play Duration 1h.30 min.

Premier took place on 25 February, 2005.