The play "Ordinary Miracle", a brief summary of which is given in this article, is one of the most famous works of the Russian playwright Evgeny Schwartz. He completed work on it in 1954. The working title of the play was “The Bear”, for the first time it was published in the collection “Shadow” and other plays, which was published in Leningrad in 1956. Then the play was first put on the stage of the capital's Theater-Studio of the film actor.
The play in three acts
The play "Ordinary Miracle", a brief outline of which will help you quickly refresh the main ups and downs of the plot, begins in a manor in the Carpathian Mountains. A magician settles here, who decides to settle down after the wedding, concentrating on the household. He loves his wife, promising that they will now have everything “like everyone else”. But his soul does not agree, it requires something magical. And each time the Mistress guesses when her husband starts another miracle. This time the house is waiting for difficult guests.
The first in Schwartz's Ordinary Miracle, a brief summary of which you are now reading, appears a young man who claims that his name is Bear. The wizard declares that it is because of him that all the amazing events will begin.
Bear Story
A summary of the Ordinary Miracle chapter by chapter will help you prepare for the exam or seminar on this work. The wizard tells his wife the story of a young man. It turns out that 7 years ago he turned a young man into a bear. The hostess is very worried about this and asks to make him a bear again, having released him. But this is possible only if some princess kisses the young man and loves him. The woman is sorry for this girl, unknown to her so far.
At this time, new guests arrive. A summary of The Ordinary Miracle will introduce you to most of the characters. To call in the estate decides the King, who drove by. At first he was amiable and polite, but soon his confession emerged that in reality the monarch was vindictive, oppressive and capricious. He assures everyone around him that 12 generations of his ancestors are to blame. Compared to all of them, he is smart and kind, although sometimes capable of abominations.
King at the manor
All characters of "Ordinary Miracle" Eugene Schwartz, a brief summary will introduce you to most of them, bright and non-standard. This is confirmed by the King, who first tries to poison the owners with wine, explaining this by the old tricks of his dead uncle, and then says that his daughter did not inherit any family atrocities, mitigating even his cruel disposition.
In the house, the Princess faces the Bear, sympathy immediately arises between them. The girl is not used to cordial and simple communication, so she likes to talk with a young man.
To the sound of trumpets comes the royal retinue. The princess and the bear, holding hands, run away.
Suite of the Ruler
All the courtiers are scared to death by the Minister-Administrator, who strives to please the King in everything. At the same time, he holds the entire retinue in a black body. Arriving at the estate, the Minister-Administrator calculates the income, and then tries to start a love date with the Mistress. It is possible to get rid of his courtship only by saying that the owner of the estate is a wizard who can turn him into a rat. He has to tear anger at his subordinates.
A summary of the "Ordinary Miracle" by E. Schwartz will allow a better understanding of the author’s intention. According to the plot, the Boss with the King appears further in the room, followed by the Bear and the Princess. Seeing a smile on his daughter’s face, the ruler immediately realizes that the reason for this is a new acquaintance. The king is ready to take the young man with him and even welcome him the title. In turn, the Princess admits that she considers him her best friend and is ready to kiss.
But when the Bear finds out who she is, she runs away in despair. The girl is at a loss. The king finds nothing better than deciding to execute the courtiers, if no one advises him what to do. The executioner is already in full readiness when the Princess appears in the doorway in men's clothes, with a pistol and a sword. She says goodbye to her father and leaves on a horse. The king rushes after, ordering the retinue to catch up with them.
At the end of the scene, the Mistress asks the Wizard if he is satisfied. He replies that very.
Restaurant "Emilia"
The work of Ordinary Miracle, a summary of which is detailed in this article, is transferred to the Emilia Inn. In winter, in bad weather, the innkeeper recalls the girl with whom he was once in love, naming the institution in her honor. Despite the fact that many years have passed, he still wants to meet her.
At that moment the King knocks on the door, the King and his retinue enter, who are covered with snow along the road. It turns out that the Princess is in the same house. She dressed as a young man and entered as a student to the hunter living here.
While the Innkeeper arranges for numerous guests to relax, the Bear appears. The summary of The Ordinary Miracle acquaints the reader in detail with the peculiarities of his character. In the tavern, the Bear meets the Princess, but does not recognize her in a masculine guise. Therefore, he begins to pour out his soul, saying that he escaped from his love for a girl who is very similar to his new friend. And it seems to him that this girl is in love with him.
The Princess makes fun of the Bear, an argument erupts between them, which ends with a duel on swords. Making another attack, the young man knocks his hat off his opponent, the masquerade is over, the braids of his beloved Bear fall on her shoulders. The girl is offended by the young man, she is ready to go to death, just to prove that he is indifferent to her. But the Bear wants to hide again. But this is impossible, on the street a blizzard, the house is covered with snow under the roof.
Meeting with sweetheart
In the play "Ordinary Miracle", the brief content of which is described in detail in this article, another romantic meeting takes place. The innkeeper discovers that the First Cavalry Lady, who arrived in the retinue of the King, is his Emilia. They are explained and reconciled.
The king is pleased that his daughter was found, but demands that the courtiers console her. By lot, the Administrator shall do so by lot. He is terribly afraid that the Princess will simply shoot him, but still comes back from her chambers alive, and with sudden news: the King’s daughter decided to marry him.
The bear is furious, immediately makes an offer to two maids of honor at once. At this moment, the Princess appears in the wedding dress, declaring that the wedding is already in an hour. The young man persuades her to speak privately. He reveals his secret to her, explaining that as soon as she kisses him, he will turn into a bear. The princess is in despair.
Hundredth bear
The Host reappears in the play, who wonders why the young man did not kiss the Princess. When he leaves, it begins to snow, and the depressed Bear asks the incoming hunter, who boasted that he had 99 killed bears on his account, if he would like to kill the hundredth.
The young man understands that he will not restrain himself, he will find the Princess and kiss her. The hunter, although hesitating, agrees to such a "courtesy."
The final
The denouement of the play comes in a year. The innkeeper married Emilia, the Bear disappeared. The wizard's spell prevents him from approaching the Princess. But the girl, because of unhappy love, is seriously ill. The courtiers are upset, only the Administrator is becoming bolder and richer, although his wedding with the daughter of the King did not take place.
Finally, the Princess wants to say goodbye to friends, she is dying of love, although some people around her do not believe that this is possible. Among those who came to brighten up her last minutes are the Master and Mistress. The Bear is approaching, he can be heard from afar in steps.
The princess admits that she loves him and is ready to forgive him, let him turn into a forest beast, but the main thing for her is to stay close. She kisses a young man. Immediately after this, a thunderclap is heard, and when the light flashes again, everyone sees that the Bear has remained human. The wizard understands that a miracle happened. In the finale of the play, he joyfully turns a hated Administrator into a rat, and is ready to create new miracles in the future.