Kugel, Aleksandr

(pen name, Homo novus). Born Aug. 14 (26), 1864, in Mozyr’, Byelorussia; died Oct. 5, 1928, in Leningrad. Russian theater critic.

Kugel’ graduated from the law faculty of the University of St. Petersburg (1886). In 1897–1918 he edited Teatr i iskusstvo (Theater and Art). An advocate of realism, KugeP opposed decadence and modernism in his numerous stylistically brilliant reviews, articles, and pamphlets. He felt that the actor was the central element in theater and, in protest against tyrannical directors, rejected the art of the new Moscow Art Theater. It was only in the 1920’s (in his speech on the 25th anniversary of the theater) that he expressed appreciation of its contribution to the stage. In 1908, with the actress Z. V. Kholmskaia, Kugel’ founded the theater of parodies, Krivoe Zerkalo (The Distorted Mirror), which he directed until the end of his life.