Peter and Alexis. Frank J. Morlock
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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 1981, 2012 by Frank J. Morlock
Published by Wildside Press LLC
www.wildsidebooks.com
DEDICATION
To the memory of my father, Michael Morlock, Who was no Peter
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Foreign Minister
Princess Charlotte
Larion Dokoukin
Alexis, Tsarevitch (Crown Prince) of Russia
Afanassief, his valet
Peter Tolstoi
Peter I the Great, Tsar (Emperor) of Russia
Catherine, the Tsaritsa
Theodosius, a prelate
Servant
Kniaz Pope
Kniaz Cardinals
Ivan
Cornelius
Several Old Believers
Princess Marya, Alexis’ aunt
Princesss Eudoxia, Alexis’ mother, Peter’s divorced wife
Prince Alexis as a child
German Tutor
An orderly
Kikin
Prince Dolgoruki
Peter’s Courier
Peter’s Valet
Afrossinia, Alexis’ common-law wife
Guards
Courtiers
A herald
Priests
Father Matthew
Executioner
Doctor
NOTE
This play is intended to be played with props but without conventional scenery. Characters, when not involved in the action, step back but remain visible to give a suggestion that what is happening involves all of them, constantly. Peter occasionally remains seated or appears on a dais. Pictures of Icons hang from the ceiling, but they do not suggest a conventional set. Occasionally the pictures change, sometimes, but not necessarily, to indicate a change of scenes; sometimes, within a scene, to indicate a change of mood.
PROLOGUE
The Foreign Minister is advising Princess Charlotte.
Foreign Minister
The Emperor understands your religious scruples, Princess Charlotte. You are a Lutheran and the Russian Crown Prince is an Orthodox. Yet, we believe Tsar Peter’s conception of Orthodoxy takes the form of the Lutheran faith. The Tsar has abolished the Patriarchate and, following the example of the Protestant Princes, he has declared himself Chief Bishop. Now that the Russians are reasonably taught and educated in schools, all of the superstitious beliefs, must, of themselves, disappear. In these schools the teachings are quite Lutheran. The monasteries are reduced in number. Miracles and relics no longer command reverence. Thus you may be at ease.
(Princess Charlotte bows her head.)
As to conditions there, it is true they are primitive. The Muscovites do everything because they are compelled to. Russia is a country where everything is begun and nothing is finished. Should the Tsar die, farewell to all progress. The Tsarevitch, who is to be your husband, is not as complete a partisan of the old ways as he is reputed to be. He favors progress, but does not believe in beating it into the people by force as does his father.
(The Princess bows again.)
As to his dissipated ways, it is true, he is a man of not strong character. But he is stubborn beyond belief. Since his father will not let him have his own way and live his own life, he protests silently by drinking Vodka, thereby deliberately unfitting himself for the role his father tries to force on him. He also gains popularity in this way. Our ambassador believes that once the Tsarevitch attains the throne, he will reform himself and cease these deliberate dissipations.
(Smiling) The Emperor hopes that this report will satisfy your scruples and expects that you will marry the Tsarevitch, thus uniting the two greatest empires on the face of the earth.
(Princess Charlotte bows in acquiescence.)
(The Foreign Minister bows solemnly and withdraws.)
ACT I
SCENE 1
The apartment of the Tsarevitch.
It is small, furnished with icons and various decorations of a religious nature. Alexis is seated in an armchair. He has a hangover, and is still dressed in a dressing gown and slippers even though it is late in the day. Larion Dokoukin, an elderly man, shabbily dressed, is speaking. Alexis is about twenty-five; his keen intelligence is somewhat dulled by drink and sleep. He is thin, aesthetic, and somewhat weak-looking.
Dokoukin
Antichrist is coming. He, the last of the devils, is not yet come himself; but the world is teeming with his progeny. They twist everything to suit his plans. He will appear in his own due time, when all is prepared and smoothed. (fervently) He is already at the door. Soon he will enter.
Alexis (sharply)
And how do you know all this? Of that day it is written “Neither the son nor the angels know.” How is it you know?
(Dokoukin remains silent.)
Alexis (yawning)
Are you a heretic or a Raskolnik?
Dokoukin
I am a clerk in the Arsenal. An informer reported me for taking bribes.
Alexis
Did you?
Dokoukin
I did. I was not compelled to, neither did I do it for the sake of extortion, but in all fairness and with a clean conscience, being satisfied with whatever was given me freely for the clerk work I did.
(Alexis laughs at his naiveté.)
Dokoukin
People had for years been wont to give me trifling sums—in all two hundred and fifteen rubles. I have nothing wherewith to repay the sum. I am poor, old, sad, wretched, disabled, and destitute. Merciful Highness—protect a defenseless old man. I beseech you, Tsarevitch Alexis Petrovitch.
Alexis (warily)
Are you sure you’re not simply an impostor?
Dokoukin (simply)
No, Your Majesty. (hesitating) There was yet another reason for my coming.
Alexis (impatiently)
Well?
Dokoukin
Nowadays, we of the old religion are hunted from house to house; we are insulted and outraged. We have shaved our heads and our beards, we have been basely defiled. We have accepted strange Western ways. We have mingled with foreign heretics and schismatics. The heart is troubled. (passionately) It is dangerous to speak, but impossible to remain silent. O secret martyrs! fear not, rise valiantly and arm yourselves with the cross to repel the power of Antichrist.
Alexis (suspiciously)
What is your purpose in telling me all this?
Dokoukin
A little while ago, I dropped a letter like this in the Cathedral. (showing a letter and giving it to Alexis who reads it) But those who found it, simply burned it. Today, I shall nail a petition to the Cathedral door so that the Tsar himself will be informed. I write