Notes for “The Caucasian Chalk Circle”: Scene 1 - The Struggle for the Valley

Characters

Delegates of Galinsk goat-breeding kolchos (right side of the circle):
• Old man (G)
• Peasant woman (G)
• Young peasant
• Young workman

Delegates of Rosa-Luxembourg fruit-growing kolchos (left side of circle):
• Peasant woman (R-L)
• Girl tractor driver
• Wounded soldier
• Old peasant man (R-L)
• Agronomist

Neutral:
• Expert of the State Reconstruction Commission
• Arkadi Cheidze the singer (presumed narrator)

Plot synopsis:

The Galinsk goat-breeding kolchos were displaced from their original valley by Hitler’s armies and are now considering settling in the valley of the Rosa-Luxembourg fruit-growing kolchos permanently. The R-L kolchos would rather that their new neighbors return to their old valley and simply replant the orchards and vineyards. An expert has been called from the capital to help settle the dispute. The R-L agronomist proposes that the valley where the Galinks kolchos are currently settled be used for an irrigation project. The majority of the Galinsk kolchos seem to be in favor of it, though the old man in their group is hesitant. The R-L kolchos reveal that they have invited the famous singer Arkadi Cheidze to celebrate the occasion, who will be putting on a play with the other R-L kolchos acting in it. This will be the main story of the play.