The Fruits of Culture (Schumm translation)/The Cast
THE FRUITS OF CULTURE.
THE CAST.
LEONID FEDOROVITCH SVESDINZEFF, a lieutenant of the Cavalry Guard a. D., proprietor of 24,000 desjatines in the various provinces. A vigorous man of about sixty, deferential, affable, gentlemanly. He is a believer in Spiritualism, and takes pleasure in startling people by the recital of his stories.
ANNA PAVLOVNA SVESDINZEFF, his wife, a stout, blooming lady, with the desire of appearing young: She entertains a strict regard for the conventional social forms, esteems her husband lightly, and puts a blind trust in her physician. An casily excitable lady.
BETSY, their daughter, a young lady of high society, about twenty years old. She is free in her manners, wears eyeglasses, flirts desperately, and laughs much. She talks very rapidly and very distinctly by moving her lips briskly like a foreigner.
VASSILI LEONIDITCH, their son; twenty-five years old, Dr. juris, without a practice, member of the Bicycle Club, the Race Club, and the Society for the Breeding of Greyhounds. A young man of excellent health and imperturbable self-possession. He talks loud and abruptly. Now perfectly serious, almost gloomy; now excessively gay, and laughing boisterously.
ALEXEI VLADIMIROVITCH KRUGOSVETLOFF, professor. A savant, about fifty years old, with quiet, deferential, and self-possessed manners in society, and a similar slow singing speech. He likes to hear himself talk. He maintains a contemptuous reserve towards those who do not agree with him. A great smoker. A lean, restless man.
THE PHYSICIAN, a healthy, corpulent man of about forty, with ruddy face. Noisy and blunt. With a self-complacent smile.
MARIA KONSTANTINOVNA, a girl of about twenty, a student at the Conservatory, with bangs, excessively modern dress, and of an insinuating and timid disposition.
PETRISTCHEFF, age twenty-eight, philologist, Dr., on the look-out for a position, member of the same societies as Vassili Leoniditch, and, besides, of the Society for the Arrangement of Dances for Girls of the Common People, bald-headed, vivacious in movement and speech, very courteous.
THE BARONESS, a distinguished lady of about fifty; her movements are ponderous, and she talks in a monotone.
THE PRINCESS, a lady of the world, a guest.
THE PRINCESS's DAUGHTER, a young lady of high society, a guest; she makes faces.
THE DUCHESS, an old-fashioned lady, who is hardly able to move about, with false locks and teeth.
GROSSMANN, of dark complexion and Jewish type, very lively, nervous; he talks very loud.
A Fat Lady, MARIA VASSILIEVNA TOLBUCHIN, a very distinguished, rich, and good-natured lady, acquainted with all the celebrities of the past and present. She is very fat, talks rapidly in order to silence the rest. She smokes.
BARON KLINGEN (Koko), Doctor of the University of St. Petersburg, chamberlain, an officer of the embassy. Perfectly correct, therefore of a tranquil mind and serenely happy.
A LADY.
A PROPRIETRESS (dumb person).
SACHATOFF, SERGEI IVANOVITCH, about fifty, Director of the Ministry a. D. An elegant gentleman of magnificent European culture. He is without employment, and takes an interest in all things. His carriage is dignified, indeed even somewhat reserved.
FEDOR IVANITCH, chamberlain, nearly sixty. An educated man, striving after culture. He uses his eyeglasses and his pocket-handkerchief, which he slowly unfolds too liberally. He also takes an interest in politics. A sensible and good man.
GREGORI, lackey, twenty-eight years, a handsome fellow, but dissolute, envious, and insolent.
JACOB, forty years, butler, a restless, good-natured man, who concerns himself only about the family affairs of the peasants.
SEMION, kitchen boy. A healthy, fresh-looking peasant boy, blonde, still beardless, quiet, with a friendly smile.
THE COACHMAN, thirty-five years. A fop, he lets only his moustache grow; rude and positive.
THE OLD COOK, forty-five years, with bristly hair, unshaven, bloated yellowish face, and trembling hands, in a ragged Nanking spring overcoat. dirty pantaloons, and torn shoes; he is hoarse. He utters his words as if he had first to overcome an obstacle.
THE COOK, a gossip; she is discontented, about thirty years old.
THE STEWARD, a retired soldier.
TANIA, chambermaid, nineteen years old, an energetic, strong, jolly girl, with quickly changing moods. In moments of powerful joyous excitement, she squeals.
FIRST PEASANT, sixty years, formerly alderman of the town; thinks he knows how to associate with gentlemen, and likės to hear himself talk.
SECOND PEASANT, forty-five years, proprietor, rude and downright, a man of few words. Semion's father.
THIRD PEASANT, seventy years, in bast shoes, nervous, restless, always in a hurry, shy; he tries to drown his shyness by words.
FIRST FOOTMAN of the Duchess. An old man of the old type, with the vanity of his class.
SECOND FOOTMAN, a healthy, coarse giant.
A PARCEL CARRIER. In blue jacket, with clean, ruddy face. He talks with decision, impressively and distinctly.
The action takes place at the capital in the house of the Svesdinzeffs.