The theatrical instinct : Nikolai Evreinov and the Russian theatre of the early twentieth century /

Carnicke's short book complements previously published English-language studies of Evreinov. Although it breaks no new ground and recycles much source material, it extends and in some cases deepens details from discussions initiated by these earlier studies. It need not and so it does not provide an overview of Evreinov's multi-faceted theatrical career. But neither does it fulfill its claim to present his work as a "synthetic whole." The play analysis, while insightful in places, is conservative in tone and treats in detail only two plays, which have been discussed by other scholars. Carnicke's real contribution is to consider Evreinov's theory of the theatrical instinct as a precursor of and in relation to the contemporary fields of transactional analysis, interactional sociology, and performance studies. Unfortunately, she largely abandons this thesis in her book's later chapters. The study lacks a truly personal point of view and in failing to deliver on its critical promise does not fully justify itself. Still, it is not without its rewards for those seeking to piece together the Evreinovian puzzle and to argue for its significance.-S. Golub, Brown University