Antonov Zurab
Zurab Antonov (b. February 21, 1820, Gori – d. December 21 or 25, 1854, Tbilisi) was a Georgian playwright.
He was born in the family of a merchant. He worked in the administrative department of Gori, then in his father's shop. In 1851, he was hired in the troupe of G. Eristavi Gori State Drama Theatre as an actor and started writing plays there. Antonov was also the director of the theatre for a short period of time (November-December, 1854).
Seven of Antonov's plays have been preserved: I Want to Become a Princess (1851), Did Uncle Really Get Married? (1852), Solar Eclipse in Georgia (staged in 1853, printed in 1876), The Husband of Five Wives (staged in 1852, printed 1852), Wedding of the Khevsurians (1852), Wedding (1853), Voyage of the Writers (1854). Antonov continued the realistic traditions of G. Eristavi. He brought the lower social class of the city's population to the stage next to the nobility and merchants.
He was the first in Georgian literature to turn the city streets into an object of artistic reflection. Against this realistic background, Antonov presented vivid, colorful images of the city and village life of the 19th century Georgia, portrayed the struggle between the “old” and “new” generations, mocked dishonest, false patriotism. Beautiful scenes, witty lines, cheerful folk humor led to the long stage life and popularity of his plays. Some of Antonov's plays are still performed on the Georgian theatre stage. In particular, K. Marjanishvili staged Solar Eclipse in Georgia at the Rustaveli Theatre and it had a great and lasting success.
Literary works: თხზულებანი, ტფ., 1876; მზის დაბნელება საქართველოში (ნამდვილი კომედია 3 მოქმედებად), თბ., 1955.
Literature: აბრამიშვილი ე., ზურაბ ანტონოვი, ბათ., 1958; გამეზარდაშვილი დ., ნარკვევები ქართული რეალიზმის ისტორიიდან, [ტ.] 2, თბ., 1957; ზანდუკელი მ., ახალი ქართული ლიტერატურა, [ტ.] 2, თბ., 1962.
E. Abramishvili
