Notes on “The Caucasian Chalk Circle”: Scene 3 - The Flight Into the Northern Mountains

Characters

Principals:
• The Singer as narrator (plus other musicians)
• Grusha, our protagonist
• Baby Michael

Fat Prince’s Entourage:
• Corporal
• Two Ironshirts

Other:
• Old man with milk
• Innkeeper
• Two elegant ladies
• Servant at the inn
• Peasant woman and her husband, who Grusha tries to leave Michael with
• Three merchants (two men, one woman)

Plot synopsis:

Grusha is on a long journey to reach her brother in the northern mountains, but Michael proves himself to be a burden. Being exposed to the outside world in such a vulnerable state allows Grusha to come to recognize the evils in the hearts of men. Nearly all the people she encounters put their own needs over hers, from the elegant ladies who sell her out for being a servant to the cowardly peasant woman who fails to protect Michael from the Ironshirts after showing such affection for the baby only minutes before. The fat Prince has sent a Corporal with two Ironshirts to track down the noble child, but despite some close calls, Grusha manages to escape them, proving her own strength and courage. By the end of the scene, she has come to see herself as a true mother to Michael, and that bond not only convinces herself of her own goodness compared to those she’s met, but also seems to be the source of her strength.

Notes for “The Caucasian Chalk Circle”: Scene 2 - The Noble Child

Characters

Abashvilli family and named associates:
• Georgi Abashvilli, the Governor, who is executed
• Natella, his wife, who is very materialistic and self-centered
• Michael, their young son, who is left behind
• Shalva, the adjutant to the Abashvillis
• The two doctors

Principals:
• The Singer as narrator
• The fat Prince Arsen Kazbeki
• Grusha, a kitchen maid and our protagonist
• Simon Chachava, a soldier who seems to have an interest in Grusha but is separated from her

Others:
• Beggars and petitioners
• Soldiers
• Rider from the capital
• Ironshirts (special kind of guards)
• Architects
• Servants
• Young female attendant
• Cook and chef
• Stableman, nurse, and fat woman

Plot synopsis:

The Abashvilli family goes to Easter mass in the morning, with many beggars and petitioners calling out their woes. This is the first time they have taken their son Michael out in public, which draws a large crowd. The baby coughs, hinting that he may be sick.
Grusha has an encounter with a soldier she knows, Simon Chachava. He throws around various innuendos that Grusha either does not understand or intentionally ignores.
The visiting fat Prince is shown through stage directions to be up to suspicious activity with the Ironshirts. It is mentioned that a war is occurring in Persia.
Later in the palace, a revolt breaks out, and the palace guards are in on it. They arrest the governor and take him away to be executed. In the chaos, Simon tells Grusha that he has been order to accompany the governor’s wife in her escape, and gives her his cross necklace as as a keepsake. Grusha sings a short song, promising to wait for his return.
The governor’s wife insists on taking her most precious material goods with her, even as the palace begins to burn down. In their rush to escape, Michael is left behind. The nurse finds him sleeping and leaves him with Grusha, saying that she’ll return. When Grusha tells this to the others, they say that the nurse is not coming back, and advise her to leave the baby behind; after all, everyone will want to get their hands on the sole heir to the throne. Despite her good heart, Grusha is convinced at first; however, when she is the only one left, she caves in to her conscience and goes back to stay with the child. After waiting some time for someone else to come for him, she decides to take Michael away with her.

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.