Kretschinski's wedding

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Data
Title: Kretschinski's wedding
Original title: Свадьба Кречинского (Svad'ba Krečinskogo)
Genus: comedy
Original language: Russian
Author: Alexander Vasilyevich Sukhovo-Kobylin
Publishing year: 1856
Premiere: 1855
Place of premiere: Maly Theater , Moscow
Place and time of the action: Moscow, mid-19th century
people
  • Pyotr Konstantinowitsch Muromski , a wealthy landowner from the Yaroslav government, always lives in the country, around 60 years old
  • Lidotschka , his daughter
  • Anna Antonovna Atueva , her aunt, an elderly woman
  • Michael Wassiljewitsch Kretschinski , a handsome man with regular features, a full whiskers, no mustache, about 40 years old
  • Vladimir Dmitriyevich Nelkin , landowner, Muromski's neighbor, a young man, a former officer, wears a mustache
  • Ivan Antonovich Raspljujew , a short , fat man of 50 years
  • Nikanor Sawitsch Beck , usurer
  • Stschebnyov , merchant
  • Fyodor , Kretschinski's valet
  • Tischka , doorman at Muromski's house
  • Police officer
  • Servants

Kretschinski's Wedding ( Russian: Свадьба Кречинского ) is a three-act comedy by Alexander Vasilyevich Sukhovo-Kobylin . It was written in 1854, premiered in Moscow's Maly Theater in 1855 and first printed in 1856. It is the first play in Suchowo-Kobylin's trilogy of drama, which also includes The Acts (1861) and Tarelkin's Death (1869).

content

first act

The action begins in Muromski's Moscow apartment. The old man actually prefers country life on his estate, but was convinced by the Atujewa to spend some time in the city. The two talk about Lidotschka's upbringing and future. While Atujewa is blinded by pomp and would like to see a man of the world as a husband for her niece, Muromski prefers a down-to-earth husband.

Lidotschka tells her aunt that Kretschinski had made a marriage proposal to her at a ball, and since she loved him, she was willing to accept it - the aunt should convince her father to agree. Meanwhile, Nelkin, a young competitor and neighbor of Muromski, spreads the rumor that Kretschinski has a bad reputation and is gambling away and wasting all his money. At the end of the act, however, the father is taken by surprise by Kretschinski and the Atujewa, and because his daughter also desperately wants the marriage, he finally agrees.

Second act

This and the next act is set in Kretschinski's apartment. In Fjodor's monologue, Kretschinski's career is reaffirmed: he was rich, but squandered everything, with new acquaintances and, above all, playing cards. In the meantime his property has also been lost and all reserves used up. Of his personal friends, he was left with only Razpluev.

In a monologue, Kretschinski reveals his plan to calm down his bride Lidotschka immediately after the wedding and then to travel to St. Petersburg himself in order to use the expected dowry there immediately for playing cards and to increase it. The visit of the merchant Stschebnyov, to whom he owes money, reminds him that he has to hold out for at least ten days before the wedding. He sends Raspljujew to raise money. However, this one returns with nothing done and badly damaged.

Next he sends Raspljujew to his bride Lidotschka to "borrow" a diamond set in a needle from her under a pretext. Kretschinski then succeeds in moving the needle at the usurer Beck; Raspljuev will use the money to pay all outstanding debts. Raspljujew addresses the audience several times during the course ("что бы вы думали?", "What do you think?").

Finally, an evening party is scheduled for the evening in the Kretschinski house, to which the bride and her father are expected. The needle should also be returned on this occasion.

Third act

Raspljujew explains to Fyodor how it is possible on the one hand to have moved the needle, but on the other hand to bring it back with him: Kretschinski took the worthless model for the needle and tricked the usurer, first showing him the original, which he was able to examine thoroughly, it to him then torn away again until both have agreed on a sum. Then he gave him the sealed model of the needle and was able to take the original back with him.

Meanwhile the evening guests arrive, Muromski and daughter as well as the Atujewa. Later, Nelkin also comes, as a friend and neighbor of Muromskis. In a conversation he warns Muromski about Kretschinski and tells that Kretschinski put Lidotschka's needle at the usurer. When challenged, Kretschinski can show the needle. Nelkin is thrown out as a slanderer. For his part, Kretschinski suggests that the wedding be held for the next day, which everyone agrees with.

But then Nelkin returns, with Beck the usurer and a police officer. They expose Kretschinski's fraud. The dismayed Lidotschka hands Beck the real needle and explains that it was simply a mistake before she rushes out, with Nelkin, Muromski and the Atueva after her.

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