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THE LOWER DEPTHS1,
by Maxim Gorky
(Yiddish: Na dnie)
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CAST OF "THE LOWER
DEPTHS"
New York
1929
Courtesy of the Museum of the City
of New York |
Here
is the cast from the Yiddish Art Theatre
production of this play when it was produced in
1929 in the Pacific Coast, mostly likely in Los
Angeles, California (listed in alphabetical
order):
Celia Adler, Anna
Appel, Anna Bordovsky, Izidore Casher, Lazar
Freed, Berta Gerstin, Sonia Goldfaden, Wolf
Goldfaden, Ben Zion Katz, Sonia Cotliar (Kotliaer),
Sam Lehrer, Maurice Schwartz, Morris (Moshe)
Strassberg and Anatole Winogradoff.
So, here is the
synopsis of Gorky's "The Lower Depths". The
name of the actor or actress who portrayed a particular
role is indicated in parentheses:
SYNOPSIS
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Maxim Gorky. The
Russian playwright and author, ranks not only in
his own country as one of the greatest living
literary figures, but is universally recognized
as one of the few really great writers of our
present age. As in "The Lower Depths," Gorky
deals in his works with the lower classes: The
peasant, the tramp, the laborer, the petty
thief, the underdog. He has a keen sympathy for
these people and draws his characters with a
vividness and redolence which can only come from
one such as Gorky, who has lived their life and
knows and feels their joys and sufferings.
The action of this
play takes place in a disreputable cellar which
is run as a night shelter by Kostoloff and his
wife, Vassilisa. Here characters from all walks
of life, who have sunk to the utmost poverty and
degradation, seek lodging. Though they have sunk
so low, life, with all its intrigues, still goes
on for them. The coming of an old pilgrim who
symbolizes the Christ-like sprit, kindles in
them the spark of hope and regeneration.
ACT ONE
Kvashnya tells the
Baron of a prospect of marriage for her which
she has refused, while Kleshtch tells her she
lies. This causes her to goad Klesshtsh about
his inhuman treatment of his wife Anna who is
very obviously dying of a lung disease. The
noise of the quarrel awakens Anna. As the Baron
and Kvashnya go out, Satine wakes up and an
altercation as to who shall sweep the place
arises between Klesshtsh and the Actor. The
Actor refuses, claiming the dust will harm him,
as the doctor has said his organism is poisoned
with alcohol. Anna begs for air, and as the
Actor leads her into the passage, Kostoloff
enters and asks for Pepel of whom he is
rightfully suspicious of carrying on an affair
with his wife. Boobnoff, Pepel and Klesshtsh are
arguing when Natasha comes in followed by
Luka--a new boarder. Luka makes himself at home
and engages the attention of the other boarders
whose characters he seems to be searching out.
Alyoshka comes in drunk and is turned out by
Vassilisa. She questions Luka, but is looking
for her lover, Pepel. She is jealous of her
sister Natasha with whom she is heard fighting
as Luka leads Anna in from the passage. Anna
senses the kindness and gentleness of Luka, whom
she says is like her father. "It's the hard
knocks I've had. They've made me gentle," says
Luka.
ACT TWO
Satine, the Baron
When and the Tartar are playing cards and
singing, while Luka sits comforting Anna. As the
others are sharpers, the Tartar is trimmed. The
Actor offers to take Luka for a drink and to
recite verses for him, but he forgets them. He
tells Luka of his downfall through alcohol, and
Luka tells him of a a free hospital in a distant
city where he may be cured and allowed to start
over again as a new man. This puts hope into the
Actor. Anna, who is dying, calls for Luka. He
sits by her, talking to her of another life and giving her hope of rest and joy. Medvyedyeff,
who is a policeman, threatens to catch Pepel as
a thief. He is silenced when Pepel threatens to
involve Kostoloff and his wife who is
Medvyedyeff's niece. Luka advises Pepel to go to
Siberia and start afresh. When asked if there is
a God, Luka answers: "If you believe it--there
is; if you don't believe it--there's not... That
which you believe in, that is." Vassilisa enters
and tries to bribe Pepel to kill her husband, of
whom she is tired. But Pepel is tired of her and
wants nothing more to do with her. Kostoloff
enters and an argument between him and Pepel
ensues. Luka is found eavesdropping by Pepel,
and he again urges Pepel to take the one he
loves and leave for a new life. They go to see
how Anna is faring, and find her dead. The Actor
comes in filled with the hope of cure and
regeneration. Satine tries to disillusion him by
telling him that Luka is lying. The cellar is
now charged with the atmosphere of both death
and hope.
ACT THREE
Nastya, her mind
over-stimulated by cheap love novels, is telling
of a love affair which she tries to imagine as
true. While the others make fun of her, Natasha
and Luka sympathize with her. Luka talks to them
of teaching men goodness, truth, and faith in
something better. Pepel asks Natrasha to go away
with him to Siberia where they can start life
anew. They are interrupted by Kostoloff and
Vassilisa who order Luka to leave the place,
feeling that he is a disrupting influence in
their shelter. Boobnoff tells Luka how he came
to be as he is. Satine and the Actor enter. The
latter has given up drinking and is saving to go
to the hospital Luka has told him of. Satine is
skeptical, but also tells Luka the story of his
downfall. Klesshtsh comes in. He has no tools to
work with now as everything had to go to pay for
Anna's funeral. He is changed since the death of
his wife. A noise is heard. Kostoloff and
Vassilisa are beating Natasha. The others try to
call for Pepel. When he comes in a scuffle
ensues in which he knocks down Kostoloff and
kills him. Vassilisa accuses Pepel of murder,
and Natasha accuses her sister of complicity,
having wished and urged the death of her
husband.
Luka has
disappeared, but he has left his influence on
the inmates of the cellar. Their talk is now
influenced by the hope instilled in them by
Luka, but they do not quite seem to understand
it. As Kleshtsh says: "He pointed them some
place and then never showed them the way." The
Actor has left, presumably for the distant
hospital. Bobnoff and Myedvyedyeff enters with
liquor which they share. Bobnoff feels kindly to
everyone and even gives Satine his money. The
boarders slowly straggle in to sleep. Some are
drinking and When and Bobnoff are singing when
the Baron enters and tells them the Actor has
hanged himself. "Ah," says Satine in a low
voice. "He's spoiled the song--the fool."
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