Aleksandr Stroganov Selected Plays

Annotation

The five plays illustrate the wide range of this noted dramatist's oeuvre. 'The Tea Ceremony' is a dream sequence featuring two characters and their involvement in this traditional Chinese art form; whereas 'Ornithology' is set in the home of an ornithologist and explores the metaphysical and metaphorical significance of the various examples of the taxidermist's art to the three actors. 'The Way Flowers Are' is a two-act comedy for four actors in the style of the classical poetry and prose of Korea. 'Master Drosselmeyer's Nutcracker' is a fantasy in two acts based on the well-known classic fairy tale by Hoffmann. Whilst the basic theme will be familiar to many, this adaptation with its eight principals and their alternating characters will charm both performers and audience alike. Finally, 'The Scent of Chestnut' is a comedy built on a love triangle between three aged performers and their pathetic attempts to revive their former popularity and solve the eternal problem of the meaning of life.