The Oktavist by Vince Gatton

[SHORT] In a small church in Imperial Russia, Father Kirill is approached by the scion of a prominent local family for a favor: the young man is convinced it's his divine calling to be an oktavist, one of the legendary ultra-deep-voiced singers in Russian liturgical music. That calling, and much else, will now be put to the test.

WINNER, The Gary Garrison Playwriting Award for 10-Minute Plays
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The Oktavist

Recommended by

  • Bailey Jordan Garcia:
    4 Mar. 2024
    “ "Sometimes…God gives you the desire, but the wrong equipment." Gorgeous. Sad. Beautiful. Gatton gracefully brings us into this rich world with fully fleshed out characters that you instantly root for. A truly brilliant piece that I'd love to see staged. ”
  • Mark Loewenstern:
    3 Feb. 2024
    “ Powerful and also subtle. Deeply moving and full of dangers and yet somehow also sweet and funny. In THE OKTAVIST, Gatton masterfully weaves many threads together to satisfying, compelling effect. Deserving of many productions. Bravo! ”
  • David Hilder:
    1 Aug. 2023
    “ A beautiful play, perfectly scaled to capture both the moment it represents and the current moment we're living in. Moving and funny and, yes, sad. Hooray for Vince Gatton. ”
View all 33 recommendations

Character Information

Father Kirill, 40s-50s, Russian, priest and choirmaster
Dimitri Semyonovich Balakin, 20s, Russian, son of a prominent local family

  • Father Kirill
    40s - 50s,
    White
    ,
    Male Identifying
    Local priest and choirmaster of St. Sophia's church near St. Petersburg, Father Kirill is handy, diplomatic, insightful, warm, and, when he has to be, firm. He knows things.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Dimitri
    20s,
    White
    ,
    Male
    The well-dressed young scion of a prominent local family, Dimitri is eager, energetic, awkward, funny, clueless, and entirely sincere. The last great lovable dork in Imperial Russia.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male

Awards

Winner
,
Gary Garrison Playwriting Award for Ten Minute Plays
,
The Tusculum Review
,
2023