Four Sisters - A Play

[Romanov_History_Buff]

Okay... so I wrote this like a year ago or so I believe and i finally decided to post it so here goes nothing. You'll find that my first poem is also in the beginning! You'll find my poems here in Romanov Poetry part 2!
http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=14086.0

This is my first piece of work on them by the way! Now sit back and I hope that you all enjoy it! *her* signifies that in the typing of the play the Narrator is a woman but it can be a man! 

Four Sisters

Cast
Olga Nikolaievna - Age 22, the eldest sister and the smart and clever sister

Tatiana Nikolaievna - Age 21, the second eldest and the practical level headed more spiritual sister.

Maria Nikolaievna - Age 19, the middle child who was always daydreaming of love and the day she would marry and have twenty children.

Anastasia Nikolaievna: Age 17, the youngest of the four. She was the "Family Prankster" who loved to play jokes on everyone. You could always find her in some tree that she had climbed into!

Narrator - Very little part in this play, this role comes on every once and again. The Narrator introduces you to the sisters.

Scenes
Introduction - The four are introduced and things seem to have to start off a little crazy thanks to Anastasia.

Act I Scene I - A room in the Alexander Palace, the four are looking over old photographs and recalling old times.
Act I Scene II - In the hallway, the Big Pair have a sisterly moment.

10 Minute Intermission

Act II Scene I - Special Purpose House, 1918
Act II Scene II - What if they could have been saved?

Introduction

[Curtains rise, Narrator enters STAGE RIGHT and stops CENTER STAGE]

Narrator: Before we start I'd like to share with you a poem our show's author would like to share and it's written by the author as well. It is also entitled "Four Sisters" and you should each have a copy in your program.
Anastasia [backstage]: Can we get started? I'm getting bored!
Tatiana [backstage]: Nastya, just hold on and let our friend speak!
Narrator: Thank you! As I was saying:

Four Sisters
Four sisters together, never apart
Each had a role, a part to play
However in the end they couldn't stay
The Big Pair
The Little Pair
Each worked whenever they had time to spare
Each had their own identity
Each a unique personality
Together they were OTMA
Olga and Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia
And now my poem is done

Let us begin!
[Narrator moves STAGE LEFT and sits in a chair. Next to *her* is a card table with a photo of OTMA posed in the formal portrait taken in 1914.]
Narrator [looks at photo, smiles]: Weren't they pretty? [ looks back at audience, smile slowly fades] It's a shame they left this world so young, so innocent! [looks around at audience] Let us not talk about what was bad first, instead we must focus on the good times before and even a glance into the future of what could have been. [Pauses Okay I'm getting off track! It's time the girls [clears throat] sorry women are introduced.
The first is Olga [Olga enters STAGE LEFT], 22 and if you wanted the honest truth this was the woman to get it from. Her sister, Tatiana [Tatiana enters STAGE LEFT and joins Olga] the next in line only 21 and more reserved and not as open as Olga but she knew how to get things done when they needed to be.
They were known as the "Big Pair" and they shared a room together. Only eighteen months between them and that in itself was a bond of union.¹
Now there is Maria, 19 and such a sweetheart who ended up crushing on almost every young man she met.
[Narrator pauses wondering why Maria hasn't yet entered from STAGE RIGHT. Notices Maria looking out into the audience.]
Narrator: Maria? Maria!
Maria: [enters STAGE RIGHT, slightly embarrassed but smiling]: I'm sorry, I got... [pauses]
Olga and Tatiana [UNISON, looking at each other] Distracted.
Narrator [Smiles, unsurprised]: Right! Last but not least the youngest who's willing to pull a prank when you aren't looking! Her name is Anastasia! [no one enters from STAGE RIGHT] Her name is Anastasia! [ still no one enters STAGE RIGHT] Anastasia! [still no one enters STAGE RIGHT] Oh dear me, she's probably off in some tree out back! I'll return shortly and with her in tow! [Narrator leaves STAGE RIGHT]
Narrator [backstage] Anastasia? where are you!?
Anastasia [backstage]: I am only up here!
Narrator [slightly annoyed]: Anastasia instead of being "up here" you should be down here like on stage! You missed your cue and you were supposed to be waiting with Maria!
Anastasia [slightly annoyed]: Standing around is so boring!
Narrator: Anastasia! Don't make me get your father!
Anastasia: Alright! Alright!
[Narrator returns and sits down]

¹Gilliard, Thirteen Years on the Russian Court

[TimM]

Ah, the Imp never misses a chance to cause mischief.  This is interesting, and I'm curious to see where it goes.

[Romanov_History_Buff]

Narrator: Now present Anastasia! [no one enters STAGE RIGHT] Anastasia! Oh, not again! [goes backstage] Anastasia Nikolaievna! Do I have to call your father!?
Anastasia [peeks in from STAGE LEFT and enters]: Hi, I'm Anastasia and if you ever need to be cheered up I would be that happy to oblige! [walks around] I know you've already met [backs right into Narrator and looks up] my sisters?
Narrator [shakes head]: No wonder why one of your nicknames was Shivzbik [looks to audience] which means imp in Russian! [points next to Maria] Next to Maria please?
[Anastasia stands next to Maria with an impish grin]
Narrator: Don't even think of trying anything on me! [ sits on something that squeaks, jumps up]
Anastasia [smiling]: I'm sorry! I was wondering where I put that down!
Olga [getting cross]: Anastasia! Be nice, this person is trying to tell a story about us... and *she* doesn't have to so remember that!
Tatiana [looks to Narrator]: Please continue.
Narrator: Gladly! [motions the off stage except for one] Anastasia? [motions her back] Hand it over!
Anastasia: What? Oh, alright! [hands over whatever it was that squeaked] Can I go now?
Narrator: Yeas and Anastasia please pay attention to your cues!
Anastasia: Alright I guess if I have to! [leaves STAGE RIGHT]
Narrator: Quite the prankster that one is! Where should we start... the beginning of the end I suppose!
CURTAINS CLOSE for scene change/Narrator goes CENTER STAGE

[Romanov_History_Buff]

*Accidentally pressed post but to continue*

Narrator: Now they were four ordinary young women.. well maybe not really ordinary considering they were Imperial Princesses or Grand Duchesses! Olga, poetic and smart; Tatiana, the reserved leader; Maria, the sweetheart and Anastasia... well obviously the jokester! Obviously Maria and Anastasia were the "Little Pair" who like their older sisters, they shared a room and they were close. Now sit back and let me welcome you to the Alexander Palace. The four are probably looking over old photo albums.
CURTAIN OPENS, Narrator exits STAGE RIGHT

Act I Scene I - Big Pairs' Room in Alexander Palace
Olga: Do you remember this photo Tatiana? [hands photo to her]
Tatiana: Yes and I also remember how Maria thought most of those young men were cute!
[Maria sees the photo and snatches it, knowing that they're talking about her]
Maria: They were dreamy!
Tatiana: Sisters, do you remember our last cruise?
Anastasia [only half paying attention]: On the Standart? On our Imperial Yacht? Was that before or after Tanya drank that stuff?
Olga [cross]: Anastasia! I don't think Tanya wants to remember being sick with Typhoid!
Tatiana [reassuringly]: Olishka it's alright! Our last cruise was in 1914 and it was after the contaminated Orangeade incident. Mashka put that photograph down already. You know you'll never see them again right?
Maria [daydreaming]: I can dream can't I?
Olga [trying to withhold a chuckle]: Mashka's at it again! She's in her own little dreamworld!
Anastasia: I think I know how to get her back to reality! Mashka?
[Anastasia seizes the photo and runs out the door (STAGE RIGHT)]
Maria [snapping out of her daydream: Hey! Give that back!
Olga: Maybe I shouldn't have said anything!
Tatiana: Yes, maybe you should not have! I have to take control before they wake up precious Mama and she hasn't been feeling well today! [speeds out door (STAGE RIGHT)]
Olga: Yes, Mama and her usual headaches! [Follows after Tatiana]

Act I Scene II - Hallway of Alexander Palace
Maria [still after Anastasia, STAGE LEFT]: Come on Nastya! This isn't funny anymore! Could you hand back the photograph please?
Anastasia: Maybe, if you will answer my question!
Maria [stops, catching breath]: What is your question Nastya?
Anastasia: Who were you daydreaming of this time? Was it... oh no let me guess! Nicholas Demenkov... Mrs. Demenkova?
Tatiana [enters STAGE LEFT]: Girls, can you please keep it down? Mama needs her rest! Anastasia please give the photograph back to Maria!
Olga: Yes, Tanya... let Mama rest for once again she's having one of her spells again.
Tatiana [shocked]: Olishka! How can you say such a thing!? Why can't you just get along with Mama and do what she asks of you and there won't be any problems!
Anastasia [snickering]: Probably because we're not you. The Governess strikes again!
Tatiana [overhears and turns]: Yes, The Governess who in fact overheard those comments asks that you return to our room and to please keep it down!
Maria and Anastasia exit STAGE LEFT
Olga: I love Mama Tanya, you know that it's just...
Tatiana [softens, puts her hand on Olga's arm]: It's just what?
Olga: It's is just... [she puts Tatiana's hand in hers] I have always felt suffocated! I can not do this nor that! Tanya, we can't even have normal friends nor can we be treated like normal adults!
Tatiana [squeezing Olga's hand gently]: I know, I sympathize with you... I really do! For I myself want friends my own age but I understand why Mama won't allow it. She cares too much for us to lose us and she doesn't want to see us getting hurt by people.
Olga [smiling]: I see why you understand Mama so much. It is because you are a lot like her. [they start walking, Olga suddenly stops] But that is just it Tanya, I'm not like Mama and I know that I shall never be!
Tatiana: I know, I know you are more like Papa! I understand, but there is always room to make a compromise.
Olga: Yes, that is very true! [The two sisters embrace and go off STAGE LEFT]
CURTAIN CLOSES, Narrator enters through curtain.
Narrator: Now wasn't that a sweet moment between the Big Pair? It really shows you how close they were to each other. Now it is time for a ten minute intermission. so please feel free to get up and walk around, the worst is yet to come... only here the "worst" has a twist. Feel free to look at the photos on the walls. [Narrator exits back through the curtain.]

10 MINUTE INTERMISSION

[Romanov_History_Buff]

Act II Scene I - Special Purpose House, 1918
[Narrator comes through the curtain.]
Narrator: Please be warned that you will soon hear gunshots and screams, do not be alarmed it is a montage of their death. Four innocent young women who had done nothing wrong were killed in cold blood. Four sisters... together in death as they were in together in their short lives. Welcome to the morning of July 17, 1918. On this morning some time past midnight the family was asked to awaken and dress. They were brought into a 6x5 meter cellar room and were shot at and bayoneted. [Narrator exits back through curtain]
Narrator [backstage]: The death sentence you hear is from Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, shooting is from various movies.
[CURTAIN OPENS to dead family, blood clearly seen on wall near Anastasia as the shooting montage is heard. In the CENTER stands the Narrator]
Narrator [Unfreezes when montage is over. Walks over to Olga and kneels.]: Olga sustained a gunshot wound to the front of her head, she was only 22; [goes and kneels at Tatiana] Tatiana suffered a bullet to the back of her head, she was only 21; [ Walks over to the storeroom door and crouches beside Maria] Maria was first shot in the leg trying to get this door open. When bayoneting failed, her life ended by a shot to the front of the head, she was only 19. [ moves over a little bit and crouches on the other side of Anastasia] And after bayoneting failed on her to, her life ended also by a shot to the front of the head, she was only 17. [pauses then stands] And no... to set the record straight she didn't survive... NO ONE DID! It was only found out only after their deaths that at least three of the sisters had sewn the family jewels into each of their corsets. [steps forward, curtain closes] However what if things could have been different? What if the family could have been saved? I believe they would have finally been allowed into England!
[CURTAIN OPENS, scene shows a loving family past July 17, 1918. A free... living family. Narrator gets in the middle with OTMA surrounding her.]
Narrator: If only that could have been true! [motions for OTMA to join their family, exits STAGE RIGHT. Family goes CENTER STAGE]
Narrator [backstage]: If only!
[BLACKOUT on Family, CURTAINS CLOSE]

THE END

[TimM]

That was both funny and tragic at the same time.  Thanks for reposting it

[Romanov_History_Buff]

So i take it that you like it? Yay for you! Actually this is the first time it's been posted anywhere! What did you think of Anastasia... like in the beginning when she snuck on stage and then put that squeaky "toy" in the Narrator's chair... so Anastasia! 

[TimM]

Yep, she acted like the Imp we know and love

[Romanov_History_Buff]

Yeah she did... and wasn't that sweet between the Big Pair?

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

That was very nice! When was the first part supposed to take place? During house arrest at AP, I'm guessing...?

[Romanov_History_Buff]

When the four are looking at photos or the intro?

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

Both, I guess.
P.S. (or postscript, the old fashioned and elegant way.. it was also very funny! Especially Nastya's character, and Olga talking about Alix. And also the way Maria was mooning over the soliders! Perfect!
Maybe I'll write a play about them now...You've inspired me...

[Romanov_History_Buff]

The intro is just that... it introduces them before anything even really starts! As for Act I Scene I when there at the AP looking at photos... i don't know really! I think it's just a day at the AP I guess! Oh and thank you... I'm glad I inspired you!   

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

Have you performed it with anyone?

P.S. Did squeaky toys exist in 1918, I wonder?....

[Romanov_History_Buff]

No I haven't! I don't know if it was really a sqeaky "toy" but it was just something that squeaked and made a noise when the narrator sat down so surprise "her" and maybe even annoy "her" a little!