Theater notes. Karatygin P.A.

Pyotr Andreevich Karatygin (1805-1879) - a hereditary actor, playwright, teacher, memoirist - recalls youth - his own and the Russian theater. At the beginning of the 19th century, the whole picture of theatrical life in Russia changes: the number of theatrical troupes is increasing, the composition of the actors is expanding. Especially for the stage, famous authors write, translate and adapt works of various genres. The scene begins to sharply need professionals, and they are brought up at the St. Petersburg Theater School. Imperial theaters open in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the troupe of which are invited by the most capable and talented graduates of the school. Imperial theaters, despite their magnificent name, differed little from the current theaters in terms of the relationship of the actors among themselves: the same passions were boiling, draws were arranged, intrigues were weaving. Here is a kind of encyclopedia of a whole theatrical era. How did Krylov perceive the "film adaptation" of his fables? Where did the expression “not worth the candle” come from? Did his more popular contemporaries love Griboedov?