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The Suicide single work   musical theatre   humour  
Adaptation of The Suicide Nikolai Erdman , 1928 single work drama
Issue Details: First known date: 1994... 1994 The Suicide
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Play with music.

The story concerns Semyon Podsekalnikov, an unemployed Russian who is completely dependent upon his wife's meagre wage. When she mistakenly concludes that Semyon plans to commit suicide, she seeks help from a neighbour. The word spreads and, before too long, Semyon is urged by an intellectual, a writer, a butcher, a priest, and a 'femme fatale' to carry out his suicide plans on the behalf of a particular cause. Swayed by visions of glory, Semyon agrees to do it. But at his farewell banquet, he begins to have his doubts and ultimately rejects the notion of suicide.

Borrowing heavily from vaudeville, commedia dell' arte, clowning, and the Hollywood musical, this production of The Suicide also incorporated a good deal of music and musical performance, including original songs by Clay Djubal: 'Suicide (Let's Commit It)' and 'Happy Face.'

Notes

  • 'Suicide (Let's Commit It)' and 'Happy Face' are both included on the CD The Larrikin Demofestos by ... Some Trippin' Diggers.

Production Details

  • 1994: Avalon Theatre, St Lucia (Brisbane), 19-21 May. Producer University of Queensland Drama Department ; Director Delyse Anthony ; Music Director Clay Djubal ; Assistant Music Director Joanne Loth ; Chorus Jennie Woodall ; Costumes Tabitha Carr-Thompson, Briget Buchanan ; Design Karen Liversidge and David Scott ; Lighting Design Jonathon Jackson ; Sound Kathryn Kelly, Marshall Cooke, Briget Buchannan ; Stage Manager Katie Goodhind ; Production Manager Jennie Gleeson ; Technical Director Kathryn Kelly.

    Cast: Stephen Taggart (Semyon), Justine Vlad (Maria), David Scott (Serafima), Paula Quinn (Alexander), Kelly Johanson (Margarita), Michael Sealy (Aristarch), Emma Hynes (Cleopatra), Marshall Cooke (Egor), Polly McLennan (Nikifor), Sophie Vacca (Victor Viktorovich), Dianna Barker (Raissa), Jonathon Jackson (Father Elpidi), Kelly Feeney (Kostya), Julia Hogarth (Tuba/2nd Boy), Heather Symon (Oleg/Groonya/a gypsie), Karen Liversidge (Ivan), Alison Kerr (Old Woman), Joanne Loth (Young Woman), Jenny Woodall (Zinka/Fressmaker/2nd Individual), Jacqui Hall (Milliner/1st Boy), Susan Dixon (Ist Individual/a gypsie), Clay Djubal (a gypsie), Jennie Gleeson (a gypsie)

        • Cast members also appeared in the following vaudeville sketches: The Hat Skit, Nameless Skit, Clown Skit, Dead Body Skit, Three Spies, Izzy Wuzzy Skit.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1994
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Last amended 9 Jul 2020 16:26:30
Subjects:
Settings:
  • c
    Russia,
    c
    c
    Former Soviet Union,
    c
    Eastern Europe, Europe,
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