The Coast of Utopia: Voyage

ACT ONE

Voyage begins on the Bakunin family estate in 1833, in the Russian town of Premukhino. Alexander Bakunin, his wife Varvara, and their daughters Liubov, Varenka, Tatiana, and Alexandra, are entertaining a guest: Baron Renne. Alexander’s daughters have an English governess, and Alexander urges his daughters to demonstrate their English for the Baron. The Baron is engaged to Liubov, Alexander’s eldest daughter. The two seem to be a good match, but Alexander jokes that Renne - at age 36 - is too young for the 22-year-old Liubov. Just as Renne is about to take his leave, the family is surprised by the arrival of Alexander’s son, Michael, who has been away for the past five years. A member of the Russian cavalry, Michael is stationed in St. Petersburg, and has come to visit while on leave. As Renne departs, Michael notes that his sister is obviously not in love, and swears to save Liubov from a loveless marriage to the Baron.

Two years later, the family is awaiting the arrival of