Skip to main content

The Director's Prism: E. T. A. Hoffmann and the Russian Theatrical Avant-Garde

Dassia N. Posner 2016

The Director's Prism investigates how and why three of Russia's most innovative directors— Vsevolod Meyerhold, Alexander Tairov, and Sergei Eisenstein—used the fantastical tales of German Romantic writer E. T. A. Hoffmann to reinvent the rules of theatrical practice. Because the rise of the director and the Russian cult of Hoffmann closely coincided, Posner argues, many characteristics we associate with avant-garde theater—subjective perspective, breaking through the fourth wall, activating the spectator as a co-creator—become uniquely legible in the context of this engagement. Posner examines the artistic poetics of Meyerhold's grotesque, Tairov's mime-drama, and Eisenstein's theatrical attraction through production analyses, based on extensive archival research, that challenge the notion of theater as a mirror to life, instead viewing the director as a prism through whom life is refracted. A resource for scholars and practitioners alike, this groundbreaking study provides a fresh, provocative perspective on experimental theater, intercultural borrowings, and the nature of the creative process.

ISBN(s)

978-0-8101-3355-6 (paper)
978-0-8101-3356-3 (hardcover)
978-0-8101-3357-0 (e-book)

Subject

Performing Arts

Citable Link

Resources
Stats

Set model for Turandot in soft colors with a raked platform, stairs, and multiple playing levels. Additional mobile banners and curtains, manipulated by the forestage servants—the commedia characters—created a transformative and transforming stage environment.

Set model for Princess Turandot (Nivinsky)

From Epilogue: The Afterlife of a Death Jubilee

Set model (authorized reproduction, 1927) for Princess Turandot, by Carlo Gozzi, directed by Evgeny Vakhtangov, Moscow Art Theatre Third Studio (1922). 117 × 81 × 75.5 cm. TWS BM202. Copyright © Theaterwissenschaftliche Sammlung, University of Cologne, Germany.

Drawing of the forestage, side entrances, and closed curtain decorated with running deer for Derzhavin’s production of The Strange Adventure of E. T. A. Hoffmann.

Drawing of stage configuration for The Strange Adventure of E. T. A. Hoffmann

From Epilogue: The Afterlife of a Death Jubilee

Sergei Yutkevich, drawing of stage configuration for The Strange Adventure of E. T. A. Hoffmann, adapted and directed by Konstantin Derzhavin, New Drama Theatre (premiere: December 7, 1922). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 3070 op. 1 ed. khr. 413: 1.

Ink drawing of Marie and Godfather Drosselmeier talking with the grandfather clock behind them in Sokolov’s puppet production of The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, drawing

From Epilogue: The Afterlife of a Death Jubilee

Scene from The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, directed by Vladimir Sokolov, First State Children’s Theatre (premiere: September 26, 1922). Drawing from the archive of Entertainment (Zrelishcha), no. 7 (October 10–16, 1922). Paper on paper, Indian ink, brush, 22.5 × 27 cm. КП 291444. Copyright © A. A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.

Sergei Eisenstein, drawing (detail) of the sharp shift in perspective made possible by watching scenes from below through transparent floors.

Drawing of scenes viewed through transparent floors, The Glass House

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, drawings of scenes viewed through transparent floors, The Glass House (January 16, 1927–March 19, 1947). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923 op. 2 ed. khr. 162: 50.

List, handwritten in English, of several of Eisenstein's ideas for scenes in The Glass House that would focus on shifted perspective and juxtaposition.

List of episode ideas for The Glass House

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, list of episode ideas for The Glass House (January 16, 1927–March 19, 1947). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923 op. 2 ed. khr. 162: 48.

Two drawings for The Glass House, annotated in English, in which a transparent glass floor becomes a means for juxtaposing still images with rapidly moving ones: a stationary cat is positioned against "a whirling town," and feet stand on a "glass balcony above the moving street."

Static and moving image drawings for The Glass House

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, static and moving image drawings for The Glass House (January 16, 1927–March 19, 1947). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923 op. 2 ed. khr. 162: 3.

Film still taken mid-dissolve of the Owl—a spy in Strike—and the owl with which he is juxtaposed. Other spy/animal juxtapositions in the film are the Monkey, the Bulldog, and the Fox.

Film still of the Owl in Strike

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Film still of the Owl, one of four spies juxtaposed with animals in Eisenstein’s Strike (released April 1925).

Film clip of Glumov chasing the thief of his diary up the outside of the former Morozov family mansion, which housed Proletkult after the Revolution.

Film clip from “Glumov’s Diary”

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Film clip from Sergei Tretiakov’s Enough Stupidity in Every Wiseman, based on the play by Alexander Ostrovsky, directed by Sergei Eisenstein, Proletkult First Workers’ Theatre (premiere: April–May 1923). НВ 4808/5. Copyright © A. A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.

Photograph of Goluvtin crossing over the audience's heads on an inclined tightrope wearing a tuxedo, with bare feet, holding a parasol. Also visible is some of the detail on the walls and ceiling of this ornate room in the mansion that before the Revolution had belonged to the wealthy Morozov family.

Photo of tightrope act in Wiseman

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Tightrope act in Sergei Tretiakov’s Enough Stupidity in Every Wiseman, based on the play by Alexander Ostrovsky, directed by Sergei Eisenstein, Proletkult First Workers’ Theatre (premiere: April–May 1923). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923 op. 1 ed. khr. 805: 14.

In this photograph, several characters cluster around Glumov, in clown white, who is holding a character in checked trousers (Mamaev) upside down by his feet. A sign in front of him reads "ARA" (American Relief Administration), while behind him is a structure with two ladders and a bar: an inner proscenium.

Photo of parodic action in Wiseman

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Parodic action (satirizing Hoover's American Relief Administration) within and downstage of the inner proscenium in Enough Stupidity in Every Wiseman, based on the play by Alexander Ostrovsky, directed by Sergei Eisenstein, Proletkult First Workers’ Theatre (premiere: April–May 1923). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923, op. 1, ed. khr. 805: 16.

In this film still, Eisenstein, in blazer, tie, and cap, looks out at the viewer of the film. The background behind him is filled with a large poster that introduces the term "montage of attractions" and advertises the May 8, 10, 12, and 13 performances of Wiseman.

Film still of Sergei Eisenstein from Wiseman

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, still from film clip used in Sergei Tretiakov’s Enough Stupidity in Every Wiseman, based on the play by Alexander Ostrovsky, directed by Sergei Eisenstein, Proletkult First Workers’ Theatre (premiere: April–May 1923). Copyright © A. A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum, Moscow.

Rough pencil sketch of vertical staging ideas for Wiseman, including a lyra (aerial hoop) and tightrope, both of which appeared in the final production. As was the case in many of Eisenstein theatrical sketches, various words –– in this case "Moscow Proletkult," "attraction," "training" –– appear within the drawing itself.

Mise-en-scène sketch for Wiseman

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, mise-en-scène sketch for Sergei Tretiakov’s Enough Stupidity in Every Wiseman, based on the play by Alexander Ostrovsky, directed by Sergei Eisenstein, Proletkult First Workers’ Theatre (premiere: April–May 1923). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923 op. 1 ed. khr. 801: 8 verso.

Libretto page from Columbine’s Garter of scenes 4, 5, 6, and most of 7, focusing on “circus” attractions, ending just before Harlequin breaks the musicians’ instruments.

Libretto page from act 2 of Columbine’s Garter

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Yutkevich, page from act 2 of the pantomime libretto for Columbine’s Garter (1922). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923, op. 1, ed. khr. 816: 15.

Rough pencil sketch of Columbine, in a half mask, above, strangling Pierrot, in a skullcap, below. On the drawing appear the words “venez,” “vous,” and “êtes,” three of the words in the phrase “Venez sans céremonies et telle que vous êtes!” (Come without ceremony just as you are!), which Pierrot says to Columbine just before she comes to his garret to kill him.

Sketch of Columbine strangling Pierrot, Columbine’s Garter

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sketch of Columbine strangling Pierrot, Columbine’s Garter, by Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Yutkevich (1922). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923, op. 1, ed. khr. 817: 17 verso.

Costume design for Harlequin, A Dozen Hours of Columbine

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, costume design (detail) of Harlequin for Eisenstein's pantomime A Dozen Hours of Columbine (1919). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923 op. 2 ed. khr. 1600: 35.

Constructivist drawing of Kumeiko, dressed as a clown (lower right), and Knorre (center) peforming the balancing act for which the duo became famous.

Balance, drawing

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Yutkevich, Balance. Drawing of Fedor Knorre (in the air) and Evgeny Kumeiko (below) (1923). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art f. 3070 op. 1 ed. khr. 412: 1.

Photograph of Vertinsky in the costume of Black Pierrot in a black smock with white pompoms and cuffs. His black skullcap, eyebrows, and lips contrast sharply with his white-painted face.

Photo of Vertinsky in Black Pierrot costume

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Alexander Vertinsky in Black Pierrot costume and white face. Photographer: A. Gornshtein, Saint Petersburg. Laurence Senelick Collection.

Rough sketches for a female character in a bowler hat, most likely Columbine.

Costume sketch for Columbine in Columbine’s Garter

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, costume sketch for Columbine in Columbine’s Garter, by Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Yutkevich (1922). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923, op. 1, ed. khr. 817: 15.

Costume sketch for Pa, a constructivist character in Columbine’s Garter who is half human, half toilet. His body is assembled from human and mechanical parts. His top hat is capped with a toilet lid crammed with various newspapers. A toilet tank marked PA juts upward from his body. At the center of his body is the word "Pipifax"––Eisenstein and Yutkevich's joint alter ego.

Costume sketch for Pa in Columbine’s Garter

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, costume sketch for Pa in Columbine’s Garter, by Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Yutkevich (dated 1922, 1934). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923, op. 1, ed. khr. 817: 6.

Costume sketch for Ma, a constructivist character in Columbine’s Garter who is half human, half restaurant. One of her thighs is marked roast (rôti) and the other soup (potage), while her left breast has three taps for dispensing drinks.

Costume sketch for Ma in Columbine’s Garter

From Chapter 3: Peregrinus Tyss Meets Pipifax: Eisenstein, the Grotesque, and the Attraction

Sergei Eisenstein, costume sketch for Ma in Columbine’s Garter, by Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Yutkevich (1922). Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, f. 1923, op. 1, ed. khr. 817: 2.