Der lebende Leichnam: Drama in sechs Akten (zwölf Bildern)

In a modest Moscow dining room, the drama opens with a tense family gathering. Anna Pawlowna, a stout, gray‑haired matriarch, watches her daughter Lisa’s marriage unravel as whispers of betrayal and financial strain surface. Through fragmented conversations with the household staff and Lisa’s sister Sascha, the play sketches a portrait of a household caught between duty, shame, and the yearning for freedom.

As the characters argue over divorce, loyalty, and the shadow of a mysterious gypsy lover, the audience senses a deeper moral conflict that threatens to upend their fragile stability. Tolstoy’s early scenes blend sharp dialogue with a stark domestic backdrop, inviting listeners to contemplate the cost of secrets and the fragile line between love and exploitation. The first act sets the stage for a compelling exploration of personal responsibility and societal expectations, leaving the outcome of the family's crisis tantalizingly uncertain.