大象传媒

Act I

V谩艌a Kudrj谩拧 draws the Kabanovs鈥� servant Gla拧a to the River Volga. Dikoj enters angrily with his nephew Boris, whom he denounces for his idleness. Dikoj leaves. Boris tells Kudrj谩拧 that his parents are dead, and, according to the terms of his grandmother鈥檚 will, he can only claim his inheritance if he respects Dikoj. Boris confides to Kudrj谩拧 that he has fallen in love with K谩t鈥檃 Kabanov谩. Returning from Evensong, Kabanicha, the Kabanov family matriarch, complains to her son Tichon that he has neglected her since his marriage. K谩t鈥檃 tries to placate her mother-in-law, but Kabanicha orders her to be quiet. The Kabanovs鈥� ward Varvara scolds Tichon for not defending his wife. K谩t鈥檃 tells Varvara that she was much happier before her marriage, and that she guiltily dreams of meeting Boris. Tichon prepares to leave on a business trip. K谩t鈥檃 asks to go with him. He refuses, so she insists he make her promise not to speak to any strangers while he is away. Kabanicha interrupts, and demands that Tichon instruct K谩t鈥檃 on how to behave during his absence. Tichon tells K谩t鈥檃 she must obey Kabanicha in all things, then leaves.

听

Act II

Kabanicha scolds K谩t鈥檃 for not showing more unhappiness at Tichon鈥檚 absence. Varvara offers K谩t鈥檃 the key to the far part of the garden, where she regularly meets her lover Kudrj谩拧. K谩t鈥檃 is horrified but can鈥檛 resist the chance to see Boris. She leaves. Kabanicha comes back with a drunken Dikoj, who demands that she scold him 鈥� she is the only person brave enough to do it. Kudrj谩拧 waits for Varvara and sings a folksong. Boris arrives in response to a mysterious message to wait in the garden. Varvara joins them, and she and Kudrj谩拧 leave to make love. K谩t鈥檃 appears, and Boris tells her that he loves her. She eventually admits that she loves him too. Varvara and Kudrj谩拧 return and suggest that Boris and K谩t鈥檃 go for a walk together.

听

Act III

It is two weeks later. A storm breaks, and Kudrj谩拧, Dikoj鈥檚 employee Kuligin, Dikoj and others take shelter. Kudrj谩拧 explains that storms are caused by electricity. Dikoj insists that storms are a punishment sent by God. Varvara warns Boris that Tichon has returned, and that K谩t鈥檃 is threatening to tell him everything. Boris hides as K谩t鈥檃 arrives, followed by Kabanicha, Dikoj and Tichon. Varvara attempts to calm K谩t鈥檃. K谩t鈥檃 confesses that she has slept with Boris. Tichon and Gla拧a search for K谩t鈥檃. Varvara, who has escaped the Kabanovs鈥� house, meets Kudrj谩拧, and they decide to leave for Moscow together. K谩t鈥檃 longs to see Boris again. He appears 鈥� but only to tell her that Dikoj is sending him away. K谩t鈥檃 first asks to go with him, then says he must depart alone. After Boris leaves, K谩t鈥檃 听determines on suicide and throws herself into the river. Kuligin sees her and calls for help, but it is too late. Tichon blames Kabanicha. Kabanicha thanks the bystanders for their help.