Ivanov

First-class professional, stock, and amateur applications for permission to perform it, and those other rights stated above, for Ivanov must be made in advance to the author’s agent, United Agents Ltd., 12-26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE, Attn: Rose Cobbe.

First published in 2008 in Great Britain by Faber and Faber Limited

ISBN: 978-0-8021-4408-9

eISBN: 978-0-8021-9102-1

Printed in the United States of America

Grove Press

an imprint of Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

841 Broadway

New York, NY 10003

Distributed by Publishers Group West

www.groveatlantic.com

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Ivanov in this version was first presented by the Donmar Warehouse at the Wyndham’s Theatre, London, on 12 September 2008. The cast, in order of appearance, was as follows:

IvanovKenneth Branagh

Borkin Lorcan Cranitch

Shabelsky Malcolm Sinclair

AnnaPetrovna Gina McKee

Lvov Tom Hiddleston

Zinaida Sylvestra Le Touzel

Kosykh James Tucker

Avdotya Linda Broughton

Yegorushka John Atterbury

Anasim Ian Drysdale

Natalia Emma Beattie

Yacob Malcolm Ridley

Nikander James Howard

Gavrila Jonathan Battersby

Lipa Giovanna Falcone

Babakina Lucy Briers

Lebedev Kevin R. McNally

Sasha Andrea Riseborough

Pyotr John Atterbury

Director Michael Grandage

Set and Costume Designer Christopher Oram

Lighting Designer Paule Constable

Composer and Sound Designer Adam Cork

Characters

Nikolay Ivanov,

landowner and regional councillor

Anna Petrovna, his wife

Count Matvey Shabelsky, his maternal uncle

Mikhail Borkin,

his estate manager

Yevgeny Lvov, a young doctor

Pyotr, Ivanov’s servant

At the Lebedevs

Pavel Lebedev, a wealthy neighbour

Zinaida, his wife

Sasha, their daughter

Marfa Babakina, a wealthy young widow

Dmitry Kosykh, an excise officer

Avdotya Nazarovna, an old woman

Yegorushka, a dependent

Gavrila, a servant

First Guest

Second Guest

Third Guest

Fourth Guest

and Visitors, Wedding Guests, Servants

IVANOV

Notes

Words in square brackets may be overlapped or elided.

‘Nicolas’ is pronounced as in French.

Act One

Outdoors at Ivanov’s estate: the house-front with an open window, a terrace, some garden furniture, a suggestion of the garden beyond and an avenue of trees. Evening is drawing in. From the window, the sound of a duet, piano and cello, practising.

Ivanov sits at the table reading a book. Borkin, in high top-boots, with a rifle, appears from the garden. He is tipsy. Catching sight of Ivanov, he tiptoes up to him and, coming alongside him, points the gun at Ivanov’s face.

Ivanov(jumping up) For God’s sake, Misha – what?! – you scared the –! I’m a bag of nerves as it is without you, without your stupid . . .

Borkin(guffaws) Right, right, apologies, sorry.

IvanovYou scared the life out of me and you think it’s funny . . .

Borkin(sits down next to him) Won’t happen again – promise. (Takes off his cap.) Lord, it’s hot. Think of it, dear chap – I’ve covered sixteen versts in three hours, I’m knackered –

heart going like the clappers, lend us your hand a minute . . .

Ivanov(reading) I’m reading . . .

BorkinNo, feel my heart –

He takes Ivanov’s hand and puts it to his chest.

Can you feel? Di-dum, di-dum, di-dum, dum-dim – see? Heart disease! I could drop dead any moment. Actually – would you be sorry if I died?

IvanovI’m reading, ask me later.

BorkinSeriously though, would you? If I died would you miss me, Nikolay?

IvanovWill you please stop [bothering me]!

BorkinJust say – would you mind if I –

IvanovWhat I mind is you reeking of vodka.

Borkin(laughs) Do I? I’m amazed. Well, not really. Nothing amazing about it. I ran into the magistrate in town, we knocked back a few or seven or eight. Actually, drinking’s not good for you. It’s bad for you, in fact – wouldn’t you agree? Eh? Bad for you?

IvanovThis really is . . . Can’t you understand you’re driving me [mad]?

BorkinRight, right . . . apologies, sorry again . . .!

He gets up and moves off.

Some people are extraordinary – you’re not even allowed to talk to them.