The Overcoat
by Nikolai Gogol, Tom Lanter, Frank S. Torok

Name: The Overcoat
Brand: Nikolai Gogol
SKU: 9780573623882
Rating: 4.14 (4 reviews)

The Overcoat Book Cover — The Overcoat Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

75 mins 19th Century Expandable Casting Comedy

Synopsis

A delightful excursion into the mind of Nikolai Gogol as he recreates his famous story.

Gogol himself is a principal character, spinning his story from nothing but the rags of a tattered old overcoat, which is pitifully unsuited for the rigors of the Saint Petersburg winters.

He creats Akaky Akakieviech - a poor, dedicated copy clerk who becomes obsessed with the idea of having a splendid new overcoat - and then the author steps into the story to become the Chief Clerk, Akaky's boss, Petrovich the tailor, and then the Very Important Person who refuses to help the shivering Akaky when the preciouls garment is stolen.

Fun, mime, dance, fantasy, magical dreams, a sympathetic ghost, simple but ingenious scenery - and the appropriately soaring music of Tchaikovsky - all combine to create a superbly funny yet moving theatre piece.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
NIKOLAI GOGOL A energetic writer in his forties. He dresses conservatively for the romantic styles of the early 1840's: gray trousers, a quiet plalid vest, an off-white shirt with a starched collar, a cravat, a dark frock coat, and black shoes. He also wears a tattered and torn overcoat. The actor who is cast as GOGOL must be capable of doing a varity of characterizations. With minimal added costume pieces, he enters his story and also appears:	male	40	A energetic writer in his forties. He dresses conservatively for the romantic styles of the early 1840's: gray trousers, a quiet plalid vest, an off-white shirt with a starched collar, a cravat, a dark frock coat, and black shoes. He also wears a tattered and torn overcoat. The actor who is cast as GOGOL must be capable of doing a varity of characterizations. With minimal added costume pieces, he enters his story and also appears:
AKAKY AKAKIEVICH A poor copy clerk in his mid-fifties. His style of dress is similar to that of GOGOL'S, but his clothes show evidence of long wear; he has no frock coat. He wears GOGOL'S tattered overcoat. He later wears a magnificent new overcoat which for purposes of the dramatic action is constructed in three sections.	male	—	A poor copy clerk in his mid-fifties. His style of dress is similar to that of GOGOL'S, but his clothes show evidence of long wear; he has no frock coat. He wears GOGOL'S tattered overcoat. He later wears a magnificent new overcoat which for purposes of the dramatic action is constructed in three sections.
NENA YEGJOROVNA AKAKY'S landlady. She is a wise and warm spinster in her late forties. She wears a simple neat plaid dress and ballet slippers in the style of the period.	female	—	AKAKY'S landlady. She is a wise and warm spinster in her late forties. She wears a simple neat plaid dress and ballet slippers in the style of the period.
OTHER CHARACTERS A minimum of THREE MEN and TWO WOMEN are necessary to create all the other characters. All underdress in basic long-sleeved back leotards and overdress in easily removable basic period costumes. Roles include:	—	—	A minimum of THREE MEN and TWO WOMEN are necessary to create all the other characters. All underdress in basic long-sleeved back leotards and overdress in easily removable basic period costumes. Roles include: