Petr Smidovich

A play by Sergei Mikhalkov based on the story by Mark Twain, staged by the Moscow Art Academic Theatre named after M. Gorky. London, mid-16th century. Two boys are born on the same day — Tom, the son of a thief, John Canty, living in a foul alley called the Court of Filth, and Edward, the heir to King Henry VIII. All of England awaits Edward's birth. Tom, on the other hand, is barely wanted even by his own family.

The nobleman des Grieux falls in love with the mysterious and attractive girl of humble origin Manon Lescaut. The girl seems to love the young man, but at the same time commits unworthy acts, seducing rich noblemen and involving des Grieux himself in a dissolute life.