Spring 2006

RUS 391 • Russian Drama

Course Description

The course offers a survey of the texts of Russian dramatic repertoire from its beginnings to the turn of the twentieth century. Historic stagings of individual plays will also be considered, as far as it is feasable, along with the influential theater philosophies of Stanislavsky and Meyerhold. Film versions of important plays will be part of the experience. Opera and ballet may also be included as music and dance dramas that shared the stage with plays. Silver Age achievements in stage design will complete the picture of the arts gathered in the Russian theater. A good reading knowledge of Russian is assumed.

Grading Policy

Final seminar paper 40% Short papers/oral presentations 30% Active participation in seminar 30%

Texts

Russian folk theater, 17th century beginnings Fonvizin, The Minor Griboedov, Woe from Wit Pushkin, Boris Godunov, Little Tragedies Glinka, A Life for the Tsar Gogol, The Inspector General and other plays Lermontov, A Masked Ball Turgenev, A Month in the Country Ostrovsky, The Storm and other plays Mussorgsky, Boris Godunov, Khovanshchina Tolstoy, The Power of Darkness Tchaikovsky, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake Chekhov, Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sister, Cherry Orchard Gorsky, The Lower Depths (and Kurosawa film). Blok, Balagan, The Rose and the Cross Mayakovsky, Vladimir Mayakovsky, The Bedbug.

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