Bolsheviki: Dead Serious Comedy

A Historical Farce that Pokes Fun at the Russian Revolution

Bolsheviki: Dead Serious Comedy is a historical farce that pokes fun at the Russian Revolution. The play follows the story of a group of Bolshevik revolutionaries who are trying to overthrow the Tsarist government. Along the way, they encounter a variety of obstacles, including a bumbling police force, a corrupt bureaucracy, and a skeptical populace. Despite the odds, the Bolsheviks manage to pull off their revolution, but not without a few unexpected twists and turns.

The play is written by Canadian playwright Michael Healey. Healey is known for his witty and irreverent take on historical events. In Bolsheviki: Dead Serious Comedy, he uses satire to explore the absurdities and contradictions of the Russian Revolution. The play is a fast-paced and entertaining look at one of the most important events in world history.

Bolsheviki: A Dead Serious Comedy

by David Fennario

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1121 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	128 pages
Paperback	:	72 pages
Item Weight	:	3.84 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.17 x 9 inches

FREE

Characters

• Vladimir Lenin: The leader of the Bolshevik Party. Lenin is a brilliant strategist and a ruthless dictator. He is determined to overthrow the Tsarist government and establish a communist state.
• Leon Trotsky: Lenin's right-hand man. Trotsky is a brilliant orator and a gifted military leader. He is also a ruthless opportunist who is willing to do anything to achieve his goals.
• Joseph Stalin: A rising star in the Bolshevik Party. Stalin is a ruthless and ambitious man who is determined to become the next leader of the Soviet Union.
• Grigori Rasputin: A self-proclaimed holy man who is close to the Tsar and Tsarina. Rasputin is a corrupt and manipulative man who uses his influence to further his own ambitions.
• Tsar Nicholas II: The last Tsar of Russia. Nicholas is a weak and indecisive leader who is unable to control his government or his country.
• Tsarina Alexandra: Nicholas's wife. Alexandra is a strong-willed woman who is determined to protect her husband and her son.

Plot

The play begins in 1917, on the eve of the Russian Revolution. The Bolsheviks are a small and disorganized group of revolutionaries. They are led by Lenin, who has recently returned from exile in Switzerland. Lenin is convinced that the time is right for revolution, and he is determined to seize power from the Tsarist government.

The Bolsheviks begin to organize their forces and to spread their propaganda among the Russian people. They are met with resistance from the Tsarist government, which arrests and imprisons many of their members. However, the Bolsheviks are determined to continue their fight. They stage a series of strikes and demonstrations, and they gradually gain support among the Russian people.

In October 1917, the Bolsheviks launch a full-scale assault on the Winter Palace, the seat of the Tsarist government. The palace is poorly defended, and the Bolsheviks quickly seize control of it. The Tsar and his family are arrested, and the Bolsheviks declare themselves the new government of Russia.

The Bolsheviks' victory is not without its challenges. The new government is faced with a civil war, and it is also isolated from the rest of the world. However, the Bolsheviks are determined to build a new socialist society in Russia. They nationalize industry, collectivize agriculture, and establish a new educational system.

The Bolsheviks' experiment in communism ultimately fails. The Soviet Union becomes a totalitarian state, and the Russian people suffer under the rule of Stalin. However, the Bolshevik Revolution remains a pivotal event in world history. It marked the beginning of the Cold War and the division of the world into two superpowers.

Themes

Bolsheviki: Dead Serious Comedy explores a number of themes, including:

• The nature of revolution: The play examines the different factors that can lead to revolution, and it explores the challenges and consequences of revolutionary change.
• The rise of totalitarianism: The play shows how the Bolsheviks' victory in the Russian Revolution led to the rise of totalitarianism in the Soviet Union. It explores the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of civil liberties.
• The human cost of revolution: The play shows the human cost of revolution. It explores the suffering and death that can result from revolutionary change.

Bolsheviki: Dead Serious Comedy is a thought-provoking and entertaining look at one of the most important events in world history. The play is a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of civil liberties. It is also a reminder of the human cost of revolution.

The play is a valuable resource for students of history, politics, and theater. It is also a great read for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Russian Revolution.

Bolsheviki: A Dead Serious Comedy

by David Fennario

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1121 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	128 pages
Paperback	:	72 pages
Item Weight	:	3.84 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.17 x 9 inches

FREE