Afanasyev Alexander

(1808 - 1842). His artistic career and the formation of a. must Pereslavl-Zaleski landowner FI. Kartseva - a passionate lover of literature and theater. Frequent play at home, in which A. often played dramatic roles, and society of artists who visited the house Kartseva, from an early age predilection A. to the theater, the last he gave himself entirely to exclude from the university, caused by his involvement with the poet Polezhayev in the "brave leprosy". In game A. imitated Yakovlev and F. Kokoshkin, diction are mastered to perfection (it consisted mainly of readings chanted - a necessary requirement of the time). Kokoshkin immediately guessed in a. strong comic talent, offering him a salary of 1000 rubles - considerable for that time not only for the beginner, but for an old actor. Debuted A. February 19, 1829 in Moscow, Petrovsky Theater, the comedy Prince A. Shakhovsky: "row, or two neighbors, as Sutyagin, and with the first submission won the sympathy of the public. A. played the role of Victor (comedy Khmelnitsky, "Pipe Dream"), Vralman (Nedorosl) and other. And Soon. moved to St. Petersburg and here the role of Osip in "Inspector".