Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
Looking through the published edition of SALVAGE this afternoon, I noticed that Ogarev's wife is named Natalie. Performed, the role is called Natasha.
Any reason for the discrepancy? Was it Natalie in London? Was it Natalie or Natasha in real life?
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
I think I read somewhere that "Natasha" is a common nickname for "Natalie." Not sure about that, though.
In Russian, the names Natalie and Natasha are pretty much one and the same. In one scene in SALVAGE, Natasha introduces herself as "Natalie Ogarev" then says, "Natasha Ogarev".
Herzen's wife, Natalie, is also has the real name of Natasha. It's in the character notes of the published text of SHIPWRECK.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
Thanks for the clarification.
Yes, just as in The Three Sisters, Natasha is a pet name for Natalia, Masha for Maria... Despite the fact that my roomie is in the ensemble of this show, I have yet to see even one of The Three Parts (for shame), but I am aware of the Chekhov connection.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
She's billed in the CoU script as Natalie, but in the Broadway Playbill as Natasha. Odd, I think.
The script I have says "Natalie (Natasha) Ogarev" for Natasha in SALVAGE. Likewise, my SHIPWRECK script has "Natalie (Natasha) Herzen" for Natalie and "Natasha Tuchkov" for Natasha.
Regardless of the fact that the two names are synonymous, could it also be that they just didn't want to cause confusion between the two characters?
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
I'd say that's a very safe assumption.
I could've sworn that there is a note within the Playbill, saying that Natalie (Tuchkov) Ogarev's name was changed to Natasha for this production, which I assume was done to lessen the confusion for audiences. I can't find it now. But, as has already been said, they are interchangeable for Russians. They're diminutives or nicknames.
What I found unusual was lack of patronymics. I believe there was only one instance where a character was addressed with his/her patronymic. Turgenev? Yes, he was Ivan Sergeivich at one point, but no one else. Maybe that convention wasn't used because audiences might find the use of too many Russian names confusing.
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