Girl with no dowry (Ostrowski)

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Data
Title: Girl with no dowry
Original title: Бесприданница (Bespridannica)
Genus: drama
Original language: Russian
Author: Alexander Ostrowski
Publishing year: 1879
Premiere: 1878
Place of premiere: Maly Theater , Moscow
Place and time of the action: The play takes place in the (non-existent) town of Brjachimow on the Volga in the second half of the 1870s.
people
  • Ogudalowa , widow
  • Larissa , her daughter
  • Knurow , an older wealthy gentleman
  • Vozhevatow , a young man
  • Karandyshev , a young civil servant
  • Paratow , a gentleman from shipping circles
  • Stschastlivtsew , called Robinson , a provincial actor
  • Evfrosinja Potapovna , Karandyshev's aunt
  • Gavrilo , the club's buffet man
  • Ivan , waiter in the cafe
  • Ilya , a gypsy
  • a servant of the Ogudalowa
  • Gypsies

Girl without a dowry ( Russian Бесприданница ; German also under the title Bad Partie ) is a drama in four acts by Alexander Ostrowski . It was created between 1874 and 1878, premiered in 1878 and first printed in 1879.

content

Petya Gerganowa as Larissa in a production by Nikolai Massalitinow , around 1937/38.

first act

In a café on the banks of the Volga , Vozhevatov and Knurow talked about Ogudalowa and her daughter Larissa, the eponymous "girl without a dowry", who after several failed attempts with other applicants is now to marry Karandyshev, a bourgeois petty bourgeois. He appears shortly afterwards in the café, together with Ogudalowa and Larissa. He invites Voshewatow and Knurow to his place for the evening, he would like to give a dinner in Larissa's honor.

After the others leave, Larissa and Karandyshev, her future groom, stay behind and talk. Karandyshev is jealous of Larissa's familiarity with her childhood friend Vozhevatov, and she also praises Paratov (with whom a marriage was once about to be established, until he suddenly left). Without Larissa knowing about it, Paratov has returned to the city by ship after a year. For his own amusement, he has a provincial actor in tow, who calls himself Robinson and lets him stand him. Palatow, who has lost large parts of his fortune, came to the city in order to marry richly. When he learns that Larissa is also planning to get married and that there is a dinner with her in the evening, he invites himself to it.

Second act

Knurow pays Ogudalowa a visit. He tries to prevent her from marrying Larissa off to a penniless simpleton like Karandyshev just because she has no dowry. Rather, it is "made for a life in luxury". He offers her to help her financially if it doesn't come to marriage, but also wants something in return.

From the gypsy Ilya, whom she asks to teach her a song (based on Baratynski's poem Не искушай меня без нужды , don't try me without need ), Larissa learns that a gracious gentleman has arrived, from whom she still has arrived does not know that it is Paratov.

In an interview with Karandyshev, Karandyshev explains why he absolutely wants to give the evening reception, namely to present himself as Larissa's groom, after he has experienced so much contempt from everyone so far. Larissa makes it clear that he was the last choice and that she wants to move away to the village as soon as possible to have some peace there. Then she learns that Palatow has arrived and he is promptly at the door.

Her mother is supposed to turn Paratov away, but he flatters her as before. He left so abruptly at the time because there were problems with his property and assets. Now he is still not completely restored, but plans to get married rich. Finally Paratov and Larissa have a discussion in which she confesses to him that she still loves him. Paratow takes this proudly and explains that love is always unevenly distributed.

When Karandyshev arrives, there is a conversation full of mutual taunts with Paratov. When Voshewatow appears, he has the actor Robinson in tow, whom he apparently borrowed from Paratow. When the three are among themselves, Paratov hatches a prank that he wants to direct against Karandyshev. With this announcement, the second act ends.

Third act

Evening party at Karandyshev's house: The announced fun consists in unduly praising the stuffy Karandyshev and getting them drunk while everyone else is just faking drinking. Meanwhile, Karandyshev's aunt Evfrosinja Potapovna complains that this dinner is far too expensive.

During ongoing sociable conversations, Larissa is persuaded to sing a tune. Paratov then pretends to be so infatuated that he compliments her and regrets leaving her. He invites her on a boat trip with the others on the Volga and she agrees. When Karandyshev is going to get some new wine after a ridiculous speech about his triumph as Larissa's bridegroom, Knurow, Voshewatow, together with Robinson, Paratow and Larissa, leave the house for the Volga. When Karandyshev realizes he has been fooled, he takes his pistol and leaves the scene angrily.

Fourth act

During his search, Karandyshev meets Robinson, but he gets rid of him and sends him to the berth. Knurow and Woshewatow have meanwhile returned from their joint excursion and go to the café. They agree that it was not a good idea for Larissa to leave the groom for Paratov and his empty promises before the wedding. He would never give up his good game for a dowry-free girl. The two also agree: “Что делать-то! мы не виноваты, наше дело сторона. "(" What can be done. It's not our fault. We have nothing to do with it. ")

When Paratow and Larissa arrive at the café, he wants to send her home in his carriage, but she cannot be got rid of. She requires him to recognize her as his bride. Finally Paratov confesses to her that he is otherwise engaged. Larissa sends him away. She seeks help from her childhood friend Woshewatow, but he lost the coin toss with Knurow and has to let him go first. Larissa is then also visited by Knurow, who invites her to Paris, saying that although she cannot marry because he is already married, he offers her financial security.

Finally Karandyshev shows up and confronts Larissa. But this offends him and describes him as "ničtožestvo", as "zero". In a rage, Karandyshev shoots Larissa, who is so tired of life that she is happy about it. She picks up the gun and puts it on the table to make it look like she shot herself. When the others hurry up in dismay, she holds her farewell monologue in which she says that it was her own fault and that she is not accusing anyone.

Performances

Under the title Bad Partie (in the new translation by Alexander Nitzberg ), the play directed by Alvis Hermanis was performed in 2017 at the Vienna Burgtheater (premiere on October 21, 2017). Marie-Luise Stockinger plays the role of Larissa .

Film adaptations

expenditure

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Information on the performance of Schlechte Partie on the Burgtheater website .