DRAMAOver there, more than a century ago — too far away for us to understand? Ostrovsky staged a fight and fought for stages. His backdrop was a swaying wood around slaves freed (to be soldiers) and masters trapped in sudden clearings. News sprouted from the trees, unheard-of lines sprang, ruthless merchants taking heart took all. A rough play. Ostrovsky, following Shakespeare, rallied the actors, brought them to recite demands. A fine mind. But lack of money closed the matter. Ostrovsky died in deep uncertainty about the kind of audience for, against whom he had written. Their bill fallen, we perform our part, occasionally at sundown hurry to the theater to see. Allusion to The Forest, a play by A.N. Ostrovsky (1823-2886) |