From May 30 to June 2, 2025, the “Baltic House” State Theater-Festival of Saint Petersburg will be hosted in Baku as part of the “Big Tour” project.
The event is organized by the ROSCONCERT Federal State Budgetary Institution under the All-Russian touring and concert plan of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
As part of the international segment of the “Big Tour” program, the following performances will be staged at the Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theater: “Treasure Island”, “The Darling”, and “What Men and Women Talk About”.
Performance: “The Darling” (16+)
A play by V. Bugakov, based on the short story by A.P. Chekhov
Director: Alexandra Mamkayeva
Stage Design: Irina Birulya
Costume Designer: Maria Sedykh
This lyrical comedy is filled with subtle Chekhovian humor, music, and beauty. Oh, how delightful Chekhov’s “Darling” is! When the kind and naive Olenka Plemyannikova listened to something nice with a gentle smile, men thought, “Well, not bad at all…” and smiled back. Female guests couldn’t help but grab her hand mid-conversation and exclaim with delight: “Darling!”
In her youth, she married Kukin (“my Vanechka”), a tenant from the annex, and passionately loved the theater. Then she became the wife of neighbor Pustovalov (“my Vasichka”) and learned all about timber trade. Later, she lived in a civil union with Smirnin (“my Volodichka”) and was ready to assist him in veterinary practice.
You may think, “What a fickle woman!” But no — she wasn’t a cold, calculating predator. She simply “always loved someone and couldn't live without love.” After all, how can one live without love?
Cast includes: Viktoria Zaitseva, Honored Artist of Russia Anatoly Dubanov, Alexander Pavelyev, Valery Solovyov, Arseniy Vorobyov, Alexander Plaksin, Yegor Lesnikov, Honored Artist of St. Petersburg Natalia Parashkina, and Kostya Yonkin.
Performance date: May 31, 2025 at 19:00
