MIKHAIL IVANOFF KOSTILYOFF--Keeper of a night lodging.
VASSILISA KARPOVNA--His wife.
NATASHA--Her sister.
MIEDVIEDIEFF--Her uncle, a policeman.
VASKA PEPEL--A young thief.
ANDREI MITRITCH KLESHTCH--A locksmith.
ANNA--His wife.
NASTYA--A street-walker.
KVASHNYA--A vendor of meat-pies.
BUBNOFF--A cap-maker.
THE BARON.
SATINE.
THE ACTOR.
LUKA--A pilgrim.
ALYOSHKA--A shoemaker.
KRIVOY ZOB } } Porters. THE TARTAR }
NIGHT LODGERS, TRAMPS AND OTHERS.
The action takes place in a Night Lodging and in "The Waste," an area in its rear.
A cellar resembling a cave. The ceiling, which merges into stone walls, is low and grimy, and the plaster and paint are peeling off. There is a window, high up on the right wall, from which comes the light. The right corner, which constitutes Pepel's room, is partitioned off by thin boards. Close to the corner of this room is Bubnoff's wooden bunk. In the left corner stands a large Russian stove. In the stone wall, left, is a door leading to the kitchen where live Kvashnya, the Baron, and Nastya. Against the wall, between the stove and the door, is a large bed covered with dirty chintz. Bunks line the walls. In the foreground, by the left wall, is a block of wood with a vise and a small anvil fastened to it, and another smaller block of wood somewhat further towards the back. Kleshtch is seated on the smaller block, trying keys into old locks. At his feet are two large bundles of various keys, wired together, also a battered tin samovar, a hammer, and pincers. In the centre are a large table, two benches, and a stool, all of which are of dirty, unpainted wood. Behind the table Kvashnya is busying herself with the samovar. The Baron sits chewing a piece of black bread, and Nastya occupies the stool, leans her elbows on the table, and reads a tattered book. In the bed, behind curtains, Anna lies coughing. Bubnoff is seated on his bunk, attempting to shape a pair of old trousers with the help of an ancient hat shape which he holds between his knees. Scattered about him are pieces of buckram, oilcloth, and rags. Satine, just awakened, lies in his bunk, grunting. On top of the stove, the Actor, invisible to the audience, tosses about and coughs.
It is an early spring morning.
THE BARON. And then?
KVASHNYA. No, my dear, said I, keep away from me with such proposals. I've been through it all, you see--and not for a hundred baked lobsters would I marry again!
BUBNOFF [to Satine] What are you grunting about? [Satine keeps on grunting]
KVASHNYA. Why should I, said I, a free woman, my own mistress, enter my name into somebody else's passport and sell myself into slavery--no! Why--I wouldn't marry a man even if he were an American prince!