The Idiots Karamazov

by Christopher Durang, Albert Innaurato

Using the characters and events of The Brothers Karamazov as a springboard, the play becomes a lampoon not only of Dostoyevsky but of western culture and literature in general. Dotted with literary allusions and intellectual jibes, it pokes fun at figures ranging from Ernest Hemingway and L. Frank Baum on to Leo Tolstoy, as it turns the saga of the ill-fated Karamazov brothers topsy-turvy. The narrator of the proceedings is the famed translator, Constance Garnett, who struggles to keep the wild goings-on in perspective and under control, and, in the end, settles for conjugating the verb "Karamazov" —which, under the circumstances, makes more sense than one might suspect.

Genres: Plays, Theatre

66 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Emily Petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endlessly stupid but undeniably hilarious take on "The Brothers Karamazov". It would more entertain those who loved "The Brothers Karamazov" than those who hated it, but the book would probably work for either group.

[EJ Paras · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This morning I watched one of my patients die before my eyes.”
“But you’re not a doctor, Ivan.”
“Then I am all the guiltier. Oh, Alyosha, how can you look at this barren untranslatable Russian idiom around us, and still believe in God?”

With my fairly pedestrian and elementary knowledge of Russian Drama and literature (and let’s face it, it’s really just purely Russian Drama at this point), I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this irreverent, nonsensical play spoofing so much from Russian art as well as just contemporary Western art as well.

Laughed a lot while reading. Would imagine a lot of great bits are visual — Constance during her long, strange translations of scenes from Russian to English, and the ‘yes, and’ that seems to play out with the characters she’s telling stories of but changing circumstances (from “whorehouse” to “warehouse”).

Mary Tyrone Karamazov killed me. Mary’s already ‘not there’ at times in Long Day’s Journey Into Night, but how she’s used in this play, just deliriously referring to her sons as characters from a completely different play… a wonderful bit. Got me every time.

“Mama, I’m going to be a pop star!”
“Edmund, stop saying that! It’s just a summer cold!”

My first Durang. He won the Tony for Best Play with Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and I feel like I’ll visit the play quite soon. Beyond Therapy I’d love to read next and will do it soon. He’s from New Jersey! I can hear it with the dialogue. Feels so New Jerseyan.

[Kristoffer Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Idiots Karamazov" is very clearly one of Christopher Durang's earliest works. It is messy, confusing, convoluted, vulgar, and bitingly hilarious. The absurdity of Durang's satire always results in hysterics. As he is taking on Dostoevsky, a vague knowledge of Russian literature is encouraged, but not entirely necessary, to enjoy such a scathing critique of The Brothers Karamazov, Anais Pnin, Djuna Barnes, and translator Constance Garnett.

[milo · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is clearly authored by someone who loves their literature, but a stack of references and facts isn’t really enough for me without a compelling plot / compelling characters to make me care about their inclusion; i was unsurprised to learn this was a student production. this seems like a more enjoyable watch than a read.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read Constance Garnetts translation of Brothers Karamazov and she does not deserve this! Also her translation of Crime and Punishment in my opinion is delightful. #TeamConstance