A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian

Tanika Gupta

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781786823366
• eBook ISBN: 9781786823373
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Nikolai, an 86 year old retired Ukrainian engineer and tractor historian in Peterborough, has fallen in love with 36 year old Valentina. His daughters, Vera and Nadezhda, who have not spoken to one another since their mother's death, unite in horror to defend their father and what remains of his pension. But is Valentina a refugee searching for better opportunities, or a bogus visa seeker trying to cheat a vulnerable old man? Growing closer to her sister, and unearthing some family history from which she has previously been shielded, Nadezhda finally understands the animosity between Vera and her father. Award-winning writer Tanika Gupta has created a wonderful re-telling of this dark family comedy, adapted from the bestselling novel by Marina Lewycka for the stage. It explores the hopes and hardships of immigrants, and how past experiences can shape families and relationships.

ACT ONE

SCENE 1

A very messy lounge with a kitchen on one side. Wilting, dying pots of herbs line the kitchen window whilst newspapers filled with apple peel litter the floor.

NIKOLAI is sat in a corner of the lounge, head in his hands, in grief.

Enter LUDMILLA, a sprightly young Ukrainian woman carrying a battered old suitcase, wearing a hat and a coat. She looks around the room in disgust.

LUDMILLA: (Accent.) Vat (what) a mess!

(To the audience.) It says on my tomb stone:

“Ludmilla Mayevska. Born in 1912 in the Ukraine, beloved wife of Nikolai…

LUDMILLA looks across at NIKOLAI.

…Mother of Vera and Nadezhda. Grandmother of Alice, Alexandra and Anna.” The stone mason had trouble getting all the words on. Ha! Just above my grave, there is a beautiful cherry tree and beneath it a wooden bench, where I like to sit sometimes and remember.

As LUDMILLA starts to speak, members of the ensemble cast enter as characters from her story. They take clothes, props etc. out of her suitcase to embody the characters they are portraying.

Ukrainian music.

My mother, Sonia Blazkho was eighteen when she married my father, Mitrofan Ocheretko in the beautiful gold domed Cathedral of St Michael in Kiev.

Enter SONIA and MITROFAN, dressed for their wedding. They look lovingly at each other. LUDMILLA throws rose petals as confetti over the bride and groom. Ukrainian wedding music and dance throughout this description.

She wore a white dress and a veil and a pretty gold locket hung around her neck. Her long brown hair was crowned with white flowers. My uncle, her oldest brother Pavel Blazhko, railway engineer, later friend to

Lenin, gave her away. My aunt, her older sister Shura, recently qualified as a doctor, was maid of honour.

The Ocheretko men stride in, in their riding boots, embroidered shirts and baggy trousers. The women wear wide swinging skirts and boots with little heels and coloured ribbons in their hair. Everyone drinks vodka.

ENSEMBLE: Nazdrovya!

All dance to Ukrainian wedding music.

The Blazhkos looked down on my father’s family. They said they were uncouth, that they drank too much and never combed their hair. The Ocheretkos thought my mother’s family, the Blazhkos, were prissy urbanites.

A big fight ensues between the families. Men square up to each other and punches are thrown.

My mother and father didn’t care what their parents thought. They were in love.

As SONIA and MITROFAN kiss, they and the rest of the ensemble exit, LUDMILLA is left on her own. She smiles at the memory. She closes her case and places it in the corner of the room.

LUDMILLA: (To the audience.) Without me here – who will remember the stories from before?

NADEZDHA enters. It is a sunny day. She takes in the messy room and looks disheartened. LUDMILLA looks at her lovingly and then exits.

LUDMILLA: (Calls back.) I go to garden. Try and tidy the weeds. Terribble state!

NADEZHDA: (Calls out.) Pappa! Pappa?

NADEZHDA picks up a few clothes off the floor and folds them up. She picks up the bin liner LUDMILLA was using and continues her work of clearing the place up. NIKOLAI enters, looking shabby, he is carrying a pyrex dish with apples in it.

NIKOLAI: Nadezhda!

NADEZHDA: Pappa! Look at this place! It’s such a mess.

NIKOLAI looks around the room surprised.

NADEZHDA: What have you there?

NIKOLAI: I am going to make you a delicious dessert.

NADEZHDA: You’re cooking?

NIKOLAI: Don’t look so surprised. Toshiba apples.

NIKOLAI opens a microwave and pops the pyrex dish in there. He presses a few buttons and the microwave buzzes into life.

NIKOLAI: Ready in just a few moments. How was your drive?

NADEZHDA: Not so bad.

NIKOLAI briefly hugs NADEZHDA in greeting. It is an awkward hug.

NADEZHDA: What’s so urgent? You said you wanted to talk to me about something?

NIKOLAI: Yes. Important.

NIKOLAI notes NADEZHDA’s look of worry.

NIKOLAI: Nothing to worry about. Sit! Sit!

NADEZHDA looks worried nevertheless.

NADEZHDA: Shall I make us some tea?

NIKOLAI: Tea later. First my good news.

NADEZHDA: Go on.

NIKOLAI: Nadezhda! I’m getting married.

NADEZHDA is speechless.

NIKOLAI: She is coming with her son from Ukrainia. Ternopil in Ukrainia.

NADEZHDA is silent, staring at her father in amazement. VALENTINA enters with a pink, fluffy suitcase. She walks in lazily and sexily and stands between them both. She is a big, busty, beautiful, brunette woman.

VALENTINA: Valentina, but I am more like Botticelli’s Venus rising from the waves. Luscious hair. Charming eyes.

NIKOLAI: Superior breasts.

VALENTINA: When you see me, you will understand.

BEAT as NADEZHDA tries hard not to overreact.

NADEZHDA: When can I meet her?

NIKOLAI: After marriage you can meet.

NADEZHDA: I think it might be better if we could meet her first, don’t you?

NIKOLAI: Why you want to meet? You not marrying her.

NADEZHDA: How old is she?

VALENTINA: Thirty-six.

NADEZHDA: And you are –

VALENTINA: Eighty-four

N...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Characters
• ACT ONE
• ACT TWO
• ACT THREE