Dramaturgical Resources
2006
The Lower Depths
By Maxim Gorki
Over the course of the season, our assistant directors and student dramaturgs will be compiling dramaturgical resources relating to each production as it develops. Below are some links to websites which relate to the history of the play, the biography of the playwright, and sites that contextualize and, we hope, shed light on the directorial approach to the dramatic material.
We hope you find these resources of interest.
Maxim (Maksim) Gorki (1868-1936)
Biographies of Maxim Gorki
Biography of Gorki on .
Always a good source, but also helpful here are the direct links to related items such as , and to other political terms, events, or important people in Gorki's lifetime.
Another good online biography, can be found .
The Lower Depths
A general description and article on the play can be found .
And for those wanting to read it in the original Russian, here's the .
Film Versions
Two famous film versions exist of the play. Here are links to the versions by:
- Acclaimed French film maker,
- Japanese master,
Background
The historical background of the play touches on , especially as it relates to the road to the .
Specific topics include the consolidation of power by the tsars, the expansion of the country that led to war with Japan, the industrialization that allowed for the mobilization of the workers, and the attempt by the government, following the war, to remove certain freedoms granted to the working class.
Our production is strongly influenced by the political and social ramifications of Hurricane Katrina on the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
For a general overview of Hurricane Katrina, click .
For an overview of the politics underscoring that tragedy, click .
The renowned photographer, Robert Polidori, also has an of his trip to photograph New Orleans after Katrina which we recommend.
A superb portfolio by the Magnum photographer, Thomas Dworzak, entitled , shot for Time Magazine, is also recommended watching.