Duck Hunting
by Aleksandr Vampilov, Alma H. Law

Name: Duck Hunting
Brand: Aleksandr Vampilov
SKU: 9780822203384
Rating: 3.92 (128 reviews)

Duck Hunting Book Cover — Duck Hunting Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

One Act90 minsUnit Set/Multiple Settings

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the depth and realism of the characters in Duck Hunting, highlighting the relevance of its themes even today. Many praise the play’s intricate character relationships and authentic dialogue, suggesting it resonates well with contemporary audiences. However, there are some critiques related to the translation quality affecting the overall experience for a few audience members.

Realistic character developmentRelatable themesEngaging dialogueTranslation issues noted by some

Synopsis

THE STORY: Constructed out of flashbacks, the play moves backward and forward in time as it probes into the plight of one Zilov, an engineer who has achieved a certain position in the Soviet bureaucracy, but has lost his will to live.

He has come to detest his boring job and the petty superior he must defer to; his marriage is falling apart; he feels betrayed by his friends, he disdains the young student who offers him the passion and sense of wonder he once derived from his wife; and he seems concerned only with his annual hunting trip which, he hopes, will restore a purpose and identity to his life.

But events continue to frustrate him: his wife aborts the child who might have saved their relationship; the new apartment they have wrested from the grudging bureaucracy seems more a tomb than a home; and ultimately, suicide appears to be Zilov's only alternative.

But, in the end, emboldened by vodka and defying the persistent bad weather, Zilov does go hunting—for the will to live is stronger than the desire to give up, and hope remains, even in the gray sameness of an existence gone stale.

Press Reviews

"A perceptive, inventive play from the modern Russian theatre which, remarkably, dares to expose the darker side of life in contemporary Soviet society, and the deep-seated malaise that troubles many of its citizens. “On this evidence, Vampilov was a remarkable playwright…” —Washington Post. “Once again, Arena has scored a major success. It has given us a fascinating play that is also a fascinating document.” —Washington Star. “…a drama of unusual depth and perception…"
— Variety