LARISA AND THE MERCHANTS Arcola Studio 2

Alexander Ostrovsky (1823-1886), one of Russia’s most popular and prolific playwrights has not had the exposure in Britain that Chekhov, Gorky, Gogol and Turgenev have had. Hopefully, Jacqui Honess-Martin’s highly enjoyable production of Sam Adamson’s version of this 1878 comedy will encourage revivals of his other works. Ostrovsky, as usual, paints an unflattering picture of the stinking-rich middle -class merchants. Smug, amoral, degenerate, they have no respect, no honour (except to themselves). The Gypsy-born Larisa (Jennifer Kidd), who was deserted by the man she loved, because she had no dowry, has just decided to marry a vain, petty government official (Ben Addis) when her conceited, arrogant, cold-blooded lover (Sam Phillips) returns and behaves even more appallingly than he had done the first time round. Well acted, the play is well worth catching.