Variations on the Death of Trotsky
Encyclopedia
Variations on the Death of Trotsky is a short one-act comedy
written by David Ives
for All in the Timing
. The play fictionalizes the death of Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky
at different moments, though all from the same, historically accurate cause: a wound to the head by an ice ax
—referred to in the play as a "mountain-climber's ax", for comic effect, to distinguish it from an icepick.
While keeping with the tradition and style of Ives's plays of taking an odd conceit and playing it for laughs as the audience finds its feet before giving the big payoff, Variations is distinguished, along with Words, Words, Words
and Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread
in that, while it begins comically, it may end either comically or dramatically, depending on the production. It is unique in that, of all of his works, it calls the most for a tragic ending. Arguably, it is also Ives' only piece centered around a single character. (While "Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread" could be similarly considered, in fact the majority of that play is an ensemble piece.)
s to soap opera
conventions, The Honeymooners
, and Act 5, Scene 1 from Hamlet
. True to its title, the play calls for Trotsky to die at the end of each scene, and then continues on (after the ring of a bell) from near where the last scene left off, usually progressing the story a bit further each time. Since the play takes place on the day of Trotsky's death (one day after the attack) Trotsky is depicted throughout the show with a mountain-climber's ax sticking comically out of his skull (not an icepick, as is made clear a number of times). Though this is apparent to the audience from the very beginning, Trotsky himself does not realize that the ax is there until his wife, known only as Mrs. Trotsky, comes in with an encyclopedia from the future which tells of Trotsky's demise. The third and final character is introduced near the end of the play: Ramon Mercader
, the Spanish assassin who "smashed, not buried" the ax into Trotsky's skull.
After seven essentially comedic variations, the eighth involves Trotsky seeing Mercader out of the house in a civil manner, with Ramon—having posed as a gardener—revealing that he actually did perform some gardening on Trotsky's property and requesting that Trotsky go outside to admire his nasturtiums. Trotsky then comes to grips with the facts of his impending demise, settling affairs with his wife, pondering the nature of man and humanity ("So even an assassin can make the flowers grow") and reciting some future events that he will never live to know about. Finally he declares that he is in his "last room", though Mrs. Trotsky tries to explain that he is, in fact, unconscious in a hospital. Trotsky accepts that he is fortunate just to have lived for another day after the attack—that this seems to be symbolic of some sort of hope concerning human life. He decides to go look at the garden that Ramon had tended to, but before he can, he dies for the final time.
Variations on the Death of Trotsky was presented as part of All in the Timing by David Ives, at Primary Stages (Casey Childs
, artistic director
) in New York City
, in December, 1993. It was directed by Jason McConnell Buzas and stage managed by Christine Catti. The set design was by Bruce Goodrich; the costume design
was by Sharon Lynch; the lighting design was by Deborah Constantine. The cast was as follows:
At later Punch Line performances, the part of Mrs. Trotsky was played by Anna Martin
.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
written by David Ives
David Ives
David Ives is a contemporary American playwright. A native of South Chicago, Ives attended a minor Catholic seminary and Northwestern University and, after some years' interval, Yale School of Drama, where he received an MFA in playwriting...
for All in the Timing
All in the Timing
All in the Timing is a collection of one-act plays by the American playwright David Ives written between 1987 and 1993. It was first published by Dramatists Play Service in 1994, with a collection of six plays; however, the updated collection contains fourteen. The short plays are almost all...
. The play fictionalizes the death of Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky , born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein, was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and theorist, Soviet politician, and the founder and first leader of the Red Army....
at different moments, though all from the same, historically accurate cause: a wound to the head by an ice ax
Ice axe
An ice axe, is a multi-purpose ice and snow tool used by mountaineers both in the ascent and descent of routes which involve frozen conditions. It can be held and employed in a number of different ways, depending on the terrain encountered...
—referred to in the play as a "mountain-climber's ax", for comic effect, to distinguish it from an icepick.
While keeping with the tradition and style of Ives's plays of taking an odd conceit and playing it for laughs as the audience finds its feet before giving the big payoff, Variations is distinguished, along with Words, Words, Words
Words, Words, Words
Words, Words, Words is a short comedic play written by David Ives for All in the Timing. The play is about Kafka, Milton, and Swift, three intelligent chimpanzees who are put in a cage together under the experimenting eye of a never seen Dr...
and Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread
Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread
Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread is a one-act play by David Ives, published as part of his 1994 "All In The Timing" collection and first produced at the Manhattan Punch Line Theatre in New York City, January 1990. The short play imitates composer Philip Glass's minimalist style; that is to say...
in that, while it begins comically, it may end either comically or dramatically, depending on the production. It is unique in that, of all of his works, it calls the most for a tragic ending. Arguably, it is also Ives' only piece centered around a single character. (While "Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread" could be similarly considered, in fact the majority of that play is an ensemble piece.)
Synopsis
The play is divided into eight scenes or "variations", each depicting a differing final moment of Trotsky's life and making satirical allusionAllusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...
s to soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
conventions, The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
, and Act 5, Scene 1 from Hamlet
Yorick
Yorick is the deceased court jester whose skull is exhumed by the gravedigger in Act 5, Scene 1, of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.Yorick may also refer to:* Yorick...
. True to its title, the play calls for Trotsky to die at the end of each scene, and then continues on (after the ring of a bell) from near where the last scene left off, usually progressing the story a bit further each time. Since the play takes place on the day of Trotsky's death (one day after the attack) Trotsky is depicted throughout the show with a mountain-climber's ax sticking comically out of his skull (not an icepick, as is made clear a number of times). Though this is apparent to the audience from the very beginning, Trotsky himself does not realize that the ax is there until his wife, known only as Mrs. Trotsky, comes in with an encyclopedia from the future which tells of Trotsky's demise. The third and final character is introduced near the end of the play: Ramon Mercader
Ramón Mercader
Jaime Ramón Mercader del Río Hernández was a Spanish communist who became famous as the murderer of Russian Communist ideologist Leon Trotsky in 1940, in Mexico...
, the Spanish assassin who "smashed, not buried" the ax into Trotsky's skull.
After seven essentially comedic variations, the eighth involves Trotsky seeing Mercader out of the house in a civil manner, with Ramon—having posed as a gardener—revealing that he actually did perform some gardening on Trotsky's property and requesting that Trotsky go outside to admire his nasturtiums. Trotsky then comes to grips with the facts of his impending demise, settling affairs with his wife, pondering the nature of man and humanity ("So even an assassin can make the flowers grow") and reciting some future events that he will never live to know about. Finally he declares that he is in his "last room", though Mrs. Trotsky tries to explain that he is, in fact, unconscious in a hospital. Trotsky accepts that he is fortunate just to have lived for another day after the attack—that this seems to be symbolic of some sort of hope concerning human life. He decides to go look at the garden that Ramon had tended to, but before he can, he dies for the final time.
Original Production
Variations on the Death of Trotsky was presented as part of All in the Timing by David Ives, at Primary Stages (Casey Childs
Casey Childs
Casey Childs is the Founder and Executive Producer of Primary Stages Company, a New York State non-profit, off-Broadway theatre company in New York City...
, artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
) in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in December, 1993. It was directed by Jason McConnell Buzas and stage managed by Christine Catti. The set design was by Bruce Goodrich; the costume design
Costume design
Costume design is the fabrication of apparel for the overall appearance of a character or performer. This usually involves researching, designing and building the actual items from conception. Costumes may be for a theater or cinema performance but may not be limited to such...
was by Sharon Lynch; the lighting design was by Deborah Constantine. The cast was as follows:
- Daniel HagenDaniel HagenDaniel Hagen is an American voice, television, and film actor. He has also done miscellaneous work as a member of the crew, as well as guest appearances on Seinfeld , CSI, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and Charmed...
as Trotsky - Nancy OpelNancy OpelNancy Carol Opel is an American singer, actress, and teacher. She grew up in the communities of Prairie Village and Leawood, Kansas. She graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and later trained at Juilliard....
as Mrs. Trotsky - Ted Neustadt at the Manhattan Punch Line Theatre (Steve KaplanSteve KaplanSteven Kaplan is a professor of African studies and comparative religion at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is one of the leading modern scholars on the origins of the Beta Israel, or Ethiopian Jews. He was the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Hebrew University from 2004-2006.-External...
, artistic director), in New York City. It was directed as well by Jason McConell Buzas, and stage managed by Kathryn Maloney. The set design was by Vaughn Patterson; the costume design was as well by Sharon Lynch; the lighting design was by Patt Dignan. The cast was as follows:
- Daniel Hagen as Trotsky
- Nora Mae Lyng as Mrs. Trotsky
- Steven Rodriguez as Ramon
At later Punch Line performances, the part of Mrs. Trotsky was played by Anna Martin
Anna Martin
Anna Martin may refer to*Anna Maxwell Martin , English actress*Anna Mebus Martin , American businesswoman and bank president...
.
See also
- All in the TimingAll in the TimingAll in the Timing is a collection of one-act plays by the American playwright David Ives written between 1987 and 1993. It was first published by Dramatists Play Service in 1994, with a collection of six plays; however, the updated collection contains fourteen. The short plays are almost all...