Maksim Titovets
The Maiden Forest
A play in two acts
Translated by Ekaterina Zudova
Dedicated to
Vasily Radchenko, Anastasia Semenova
«Envy is a time bomb. There is no such thing as unfortunate love since only lack of love can be unfortunate. You can’t be really happy unless you love and are loved in return». Maxim Titovets, 2019.
CHARACTERS
Fyodor Kolosov, 57
Artyom Kolosov (Jacket), his stepson, 29
Alexey Khromov, 55
Veniamin (Venya) Frostin, 54
Tatyana Yaseneva, pediatrician, 34
Ignatych, retired Kolosov’s neighbor
Chopper, unknown age
Ivan Rybin (Moray), Artyom’s former classmate, 30
Slav, 30—35
Natalia, about 27
Khlora, 23
Local police officer, hunters, and others
The action takes place in Russia.
Scene 1
June. Pentecost.
Early morning. Fyodor Kolosov’s summer cottage in the Maiden Forest settlement.
In the center of the stage is an open-air summer terrace with a wooden table, a bench, and several chairs. The front lawn is covered in grass. There is a flowerbed. On the left, there is an old apple tree and high fence with a gate, the exit into the street. Fyodor’s two-story house is on the right. A paved path runs from the porch. A carved wooden signpost stands near the path featuring the following signs: «Banya – 12 meters», «Water well – 15 meters», «New York – 8,321 km», «Tokyo – 6,132 km». A birch grove can be seen in the background.
Tatyana leaves Fyodor’s house. She comes up to the gate, turns around, and looks at the house, tidying up her hair. Fyodor opens a window on the first floor. Tatyana waves at him and leaves through the gate.
Fyodor leaves the window wings a little ajar and goes out on the porch. He is bare-chested and strongly built. He comes up to the washstand near the gazebo, humming an unsophisticated melody, washes his face and hands, grunts loudly. Then he takes a towel off the hook and wipes his face, chest, shoulders, and back. He puts the towel back. He does some morning exercises as he is going back inside.
Venya and Alexey walk up to the gate. Venya wears a trendy T-shirt with a print, a lightweight jacket, and jeans. A small bright backpack is slung over his one shoulder. Alexey is dressed in a decent-looking summer suit, with a hat on his head. He carries a small traveling bag.
