"The Last Summer": the unshakable, turned fragile

The events unfold during the First World War, but its echoes are still faintly felt in quiet Kuokkala. Life at the dacha goes on as usual, reminiscent of the atmosphere of Chekhov's works. The main characters—the officer's wife Anna, her teenage son, a doctor neighbor, relatives, and servants—engage in philosophical conversations, debate the fate of the country, organize spiritualistic séances and poetry readings, trying not to notice how their world is gradually disappearing under the onslaught of a new and cruel era. Immersed in their habits and rituals, they try to ignore the alarming harbingers of impending change.

The illusion of calm collapses with the unexpected return of Anna's husband from the front. He has changed forever under the influence of military events. His appearance becomes a catalyst, exacerbating internal contradictions and revealing the fragility of their world. An oppressive sense of inevitable change grips all the characters. A game of tarot card reading adds a special tension: humorous predictions about the future of great poets—Yesenin, Gumilev, Mandelstam—become tragically prophetic.

The story is told from the perspective of the grown-up Nika, played by the legendary Veniamin Smekhov. His presence on stage is a glimpse into the future, understanding what awaits these people and their culture. He is not just an observer, but also the keeper of the memory of that happy time that his loved ones tried in vain to hold on to.

Maxim Obrezkov's set design emphasizes the sense of impending catastrophe: instead of a cozy dacha veranda, the audience sees earth turned upside down by wheels. This image powerfully symbolizes ruined destinies and a crippled earth.

The performance features outstanding actors: Yulia Peresild, Elena Nikolaeva, Mikhail Troynik, Dmitry Chebotarev, Ivan Dobronravov, and Vitaly Kovalenko. Their teamwork creates a living world on stage that the audience believes in unconditionally.

"The Last Summer" is more than just a re-enactment of historical events. It is a profound reflection on human blindness in the face of history and the value of culture and memory as the only support on the brink of the abyss. The play makes one consider the cyclical nature of history and the importance of heeding its warnings. Tickets for "The Last Summer" at the Theatre of Nations are available for purchase on our website.