A monologue performance by Jennifer Claire from Australia about the story of Countess Sonya Tolstoy.
The play is Countess Sonya Tolstoy’s story, the love she felt for him despite all the trials of a fifty year marriage. She bore him thirteen children, nine of whom lived. But Sonya refused to follow his philosophy, of renunciation and abstinence, she has her children to look after, she will not see them destitute.
Tolstoy, all his life, struggled with his sexuality, always striving for a celibacy he never managed to attain. His spiritual reliance and love for his chief disciple, the fanatic and pedantic Vladimir Grigoryevich Chertkov, annoys Sonya as she distrusts him, and eventually comes vehemently to hate, till Tolstoy, an old man of eighty two, can no longer stand the hysterical jealousy of his wife, nor the possessive manipulation of his devoted disciple. Tolstoy flees his estate of Yasnaya Polyana, hoping to find peace, but he becomes ill and lies waiting to die in the stationmaster’s house at Astapovo, surrounded by all his children, Chertkov and other followers, while his wife waits for their permission to see her husband, alone in a railway carriage.
Jennifer Claire began her life in the theatre at the age of sixteen, and has since appeared in over 200 productions on stage as well as starring in film and television. In addition to her acting career Jennifer is the playwright of The Butterflies of Kalimantan, a comedy of modern Sydney manners, and Siestas in a Pink Hotel. For the last twenty years Jennifer has divided her life between Australia and Bali. Most recently she wrote and performed the one-woman play Tolstoy's Wife (Source: salihara.org).
Date and time:
July 31/8 p.m.
Aug.01/8 p.m.
Ticket Price:
General IDR 50000
Student IDR 25000
Venue:
Komunitas Salihara
Jl.Salihara No.16 Pasar Minggu
Jakarta Selatan 12520
For further info, please click www.salihara.org
