Balakirev the Buffoon

Balakirev The Buffoon (Шут Балакирев) is a 2002 Russian televised version of 1999 Lenkom theatrical presentation, written by Grigori Gorin. Theatrical version directed by Mark Zakharov, televised version by Nikolay Skuyibin.

Plot
Buffoon of the court circle, Ivan Balakirev, is a constant participant of the Tzar's festivities and buffoonery. Under the will of the circumstances he was drawn into the intricate relations inside the court and inside the royal family...

Cast

 * Oleg Yankovsky, Aleksandr Lazarev jr. as Peter The Great
 * Sergei Frolov as Ivan Balakirev
 * Aleksandra Zakharova, Maria Mironova as Catherine I of Russia
 * Aleksandr Lazarev jr. as Willem Mons
 * Aleksandr Zbruyev as Count Yaguzhinskii, chief prosecutor
 * Nikolai Karachentsov, Viktor Rakov as Alexander Menshikov
 * Olesya Zheleznyak as Dunya Burykina
 * Yuri Kolychev as Peter Shafirov
 * Tatyana Kravchenko as Anisya Kirillovna Balakireva
 * Lyudmila Artemyeva as Darya Burykina
 * Lyudmila Porgina as Golovkina, chamber-maid
 * Igor Fokin as Shapsky, chief jester

Balakirev in reality
Based on a real story set time in a Peter The Great era.

Ivan Alexandrovich Balakirev was a trusted servant of Peter I and Catherine I since 1699. In the time of the empress Anne he became an official court buffoon.

One of the version around the Balakirev surname etymology is that it formed from Bala kire, a tatar for stubborn kid.

Ksenofont Polevoy published a book entitled Collection of anecdotes by Balakirev, using the real name of Ivan Balakirev as his pseudonym. It's in fact a collection from various people and sources.