Enemies (play)

Enemies (Russian: Враги, translit. Vragi) is a 1906 Russian-language play by Maxim Gorky. It was published in 1906 in the collection Znaniye (Knowledge, book 14), in Saint Petersburg, at a time when Gorky was actively involved with the Russian revolutionary underground, which served as the impetus for the play.[1] It is a recognized as an early work of socialist realism.

Plot

The action takes place in 1905 at the factory of the landowners Bardiny and Skrobotov. Skrobotov is dissatisfied with the liberal policy of his partner Bardiny and complains that the workers are given too much voice – "They don't dare squeak at me!" says Skrobotov, sincerely believing that the working class should not be allowed entertainment, education, or voting rights.

The factory has a social democratic worker's organization, and its activists demand the removal of a cruel manager, Dichkov. Skrobotov categorically refuses, believing that even if Dichkov deserves removal in this case, doing so in response to worker demands would be a fatal step.

Discussions between the workers lead nowhere, the situation spirals out of control, Skrobotov summons the militia, and blood is shed. One of the enraged workers mortally wounds Skrobotov, who before he dies identifies the worker as a communist. A murder investigation ensues, the militia arresting masses of workers. But the workers do not break, and display iron calm, coolness and courage.

A worker, Akimov, comes to Bardiny and confesses to the murder. But other workers come, and stand behind Akimov. Skrobotov's widow Cleopatra advises Akimov to flee into exile, to which Akimov responds:

Productions and adaptions

Enemies was produced at the Moscow Art Theater beginning October 10, 1935, directed by Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and Mikhail Nikolayevich Kedrov.

A production was mounted at the Omsk Academic Drama Theater, beginning May 20, 2014, directed by Georgy Zurabovich Tskhvirava.

Enemies was adapted into an English-language television film, broadcast under the auspices of Great Performances on January 23, 1974. Ellis Rabb wrote the adaption and shared directing credit with Kirk Browning, and also appeared as an actor, as did Frances Sternhagen, Peter Donat, Kate Reid, and Josef Sommer.[2][3]

In 1985 Enemies was performed in London with a multi-national cast directed by Ann Pennington in association with Internationalist Theatre. The cast included South African Greek actress Angelique Rockas and Bulgarian Madlena Nedeva playing the parts of Tatiana, and Kleopatra respectively.[4] Tom Vaughan of The Morning Star affirmed "this is a great revolutionary play, by a great revolutionary writer, performed with elegance and style, great passion and commitment".[5] BBC Russian Service was no less complimentary.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Commentaries to Враги. 1956 Collected Works by A.M. Gorky, in 30 vols. Vol. 6 // На базе Собрания сочинений в 30-ти томах. ГИХЛ, 1949-1956. ТОМ 6
  2. ↑ Jason Buchanan. "Enemies". AllMovie. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Enemies". IMDb. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ Internationalist Theatre (December 2015). "Enemies-Production Data". Theatricalia.com – via theatricalia.com.
  5. ↑ Tom Vaughan (26 March 1985). "Review of Enemies". The Morning Star – via Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ "BBC broadcast review of Enemies". BBC Russian Service. 30 March 1985 – via Internet Archive.

Further reading

  • Bialik, B. A. (1952). Драматургия М.Горького советской эпохи [Dramaturgy of M. Gorky in the Soviet era]. Moscow: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences. p. 83. (in Russian)
  • Kastors, S. V. (1963). Драматургия М.Горького: Наблюдения над идейно-художественной спецификой [Dramaturgy of M. Gorky: Observations on Ideological and Artistic Specifics]. Moscow: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences. p. 146. (in Russian)
  • larin, B. A. (1974). "Заметки о языке пьесы М. Горького «Враги»" [Notes on the language of M. Gorky's play "Enemies"]. Эстетика слова и язык писателя: Избранные статьи [Aesthetics of the Words and the Language of The Writer: Selected Articles]. pp. 164–195. (in Russian)
  • Kastors, S. V. (1959). Максим Горький и его драматургия [Maxim Gorky and his Dramaturgy]. Moscow. p. 77. (in Russian)
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