Variations on the Death of Trotsky

Variations on the Death of Trotsky is a short one act comedy written by David Ives.

Synopsis

The play depicts the death of Leon Trotsky in varying ways. The play is divided into eight scenes or "variations," which depict the last day of Trotsky's life. True to its title, the play calls for Trotsky to die at the end of each scene, and then continues on from near where the last scene left off, usually progressing the story a bit further each time. Since the play takes place on the day of Trotsky's death (one day after the attack) Trotsky is depicted with an mountain-climbers' axe sticking out of his skull (not an icepick, as is made clear a number of times throughout the show). Though this is apparent to the audience from the very beginning, Trotsky himself does not realize that the axe is there until his wife, known only as Mrs. Trotsky, comes in with an encyclopedia from the future which tells of Trotsky's demise. The third and final character is introduced near the end of the play; Ramon Mercader, the Spanish assassin who smashed, not buried, the axe into Trotsky's skull.

While keeping with the tradition and style of Ives' plays of taking an odd conceit and playing it for laughs as the audience finds its feet before giving the big payoff, "Variations" is distinguished, along with Words, Words, Words and Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread in that, while it begins comically, it may end either comically or dramatically, depending on the production. It is unique in that, of all of his works, it calls the most for a tragic ending. It is also unique in that it is arguably Ives' only piece to be centered around a singular character ("Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread could also be argued, but the majority of that is, in fact, an ensemble piece). After seven essentially comedic variations, the eighth involves Trotsky seeing Ramon Mercader out (in a civil manner), coming to grips with the facts of his impending demise, settling affairs with his wife, pondering the nature of man and humanity ("So even an assassin can make the flowers grow") and the future events he'll never know about. Finally he declares that he is in his "last room," though Mrs. Trotsky tries to explain that he is, in fact, unconscious in a hospital, before he finally accepts that he is fortunate just to have lived for another day after the attack.

He declares that he's going to go look at Ramon's garden, and walks off. In most (but not all) productions, he dies before reaching the door.

Original Production

"Variations on the Death of Trotsky" was presented as part of "All in the Timing" by David Ives, at Primary Stages (Casey Childs, artistic director) in New York City, in December, 1993. It was directed by Jason McConnell Buzas and stage managed by Christine Catti. The set design was by Bruce Goodrich; the costume design was by Sharon Lynch; the lighting design was by Deborah Constantine. The cast was as follows:

* Daniel Hagen as Trotsky
* Nancy Opel as Mrs. Trotsky
* Ted Neustadt at the Manhattan Punch Line Theatre (Steve Kaplan, artistic director), in New York City. It was directed as well by Jason McConell Buzas, and stage managed by Kathryn Maloney. The set design was by Vaughn Patterson; the costume design was as well by Sharon Lynch; the lighting design was by Patt Dignan. The cast was as follows:

* Daniel Hagen as Trotsky
* Nora Mae Lyng as Mrs. Trotsky
* Steven Rodriguez as Ramon

At later Punch Line performances, the part of Mrs. Trotsky was played by Alison Martin.

ee also

*"All in the Timing"