How Travkin's Dad Got Lost

A dramatization by O. Gerasimov based on S. Rozanov’s novella “The Adventures of Travka.”

Text from the record sleeve: “Who hasn’t heard about the book ‘The Adventures of Travka’? Most likely, very many people—if not all. It was written by Sergey Grigorievich Rozanov (1894—1957). Rozanov was an amazingly versatile and talented person: he wrote books and plays, and even staged them in the theater himself. And most importantly, Sergey Grigorievich loved children very much—he was their great friend. So we want you to learn more about the affairs of this good and kind person.

In Moscow, right in the center on a quiet street, stands a house of an old construction. Today the Theatre for Young Spectators (TYUZ) is located there, and in the first years after the revolution, the Children’s Theater opened here. Sergey Grigorievich Rozanov worked as a director in this theater. He was a real magician of the stage. At his performances, nobody was bored—there simply wasn’t time to be bored. In one minute, thousands of different events would rush down on the audience: just a moment ago they were at the pioneer rally, and now they are in the airplane cabin, traveling across Africa, flying in a rocket to Mars…

Many different plays—bright, cheerful, full of imagination and energy—were staged by Sergey Grigorievich Rozanov in the Children’s Theater. Anyone who saw them would keep the images of the play heroes in their memory—brave and courageous boys and girls, responsive, honest, and hardworking.

Sergey Grigorievich Rozanov was constantly surrounded by pioneers, schoolchildren, and Octoberists. He devoted his first prose work to the youngest readers—the novella “The Adventures of Travka.” It is a very smart, kind, and useful book. Its hero is a boy named Travka. Actually, he is Trofim Mikhailovich. But while he is still very small, going to kindergarten—his parents gave him this funny and affectionate name. Besides, the boy is very curious. He reaches for the sun, for light, for life—just like the first spring grass reaches for the sun. He wants to learn everything and understand everything. Maybe that’s why he was called Travka.

Author of the dramatization and director: O. Gerasimov
Composer: G. Saveliev
Chamber instrumental ensemble under the direction of P. Tarasevich

Characters and performers:
Author, Izmaylov, Porter — V. Petrov
Travka — A. Goryunova
Dad, a Stranger Dad, Belyakov — V. Abdullov
Mom — N. Gerasimova
Fat Aunt, Narrator — G. Romodina
A plump boy — E. Koroleva
Station chief — V. Stepanov
Telegraph operator — E. Kuznetsova
Solnyshka — O. Shirokova
Kolia, Scout — K. Rumiанова
Travka’s Uncle, Detachment Commander — V. Shklovsky”