Sulerzhitsky in Canada

[BOURASSA ANDRE G]

Does anyone know about Sulerzhitsky (in French Soulerjitski), an =
 
assistant of Sranislavsky who spent some time in West Canada?  All I know=
 =
 
is what is revealed in the first volume of Meyerhold (p. 17, 30, 33, =
 
262-3 and 319 of the French translation).  I wrote a short text on him =
 
for the next edition of the _Canadian Encyclopedia_ on CD ROM, but some =
 
informations are still missing and the editor is hesitating.  I think the=
 =
 
subject is important, especially with those questions recently arised =
 
about sects. The Russian Ambassy in Ottawa is unable to help me... unless=
 =
 
they would have archives to investigate.  They told me all they had was a=
 =
 
mention in an article on Stanislavsky in a Russian encyclopedia.  Noi =
 
mention there about his presence in Canada
Where and when was Sulerzhitsky born?  Where did he die?  Was he already =
 
an assistant of Stanislavsky when he was presented to Tolstoi?  Was he =
 
already implied in theatre?  Where did the first Doukhobors arrive?  =
 
Through Halifax?  How long did Sulerzhitsky stay in West Canada?  Was his=
 =
 
participation important in Western politics?  Do people in the West =
 
aknowledge his work there?
Don't worry about the quality of the English in the following notice; it =
 
will be revized if the encyclopedia ever publishes it, which is not =
 
certain if I don't find more.
 =
 
Sulerzhitsky, Leopold (d 17 Dec 1916)
Sulerzhitsky is mostly remembered for having been the assistant and =
 
private secretary of Konstantin=CAS. Stanislavsky who founded the Moscow =
 
Art Theatre in 1897. It is he who assisted Vsevolod=CAE. Meyerhold when =
 
they were forced by the 1905 young revolutionaries to close the =
 
Theatre-Studio and who helped some students to join the Art Theatre; he =
 
who was director of the "The Blue Bird" with Evgeny=CAB. Vakhtangov as an=
 =
 
assistant in 1908; he who helped Stanislavsky to write down his new =
 
system in 1909; he who assisted Gordon Craig in the production of =
 
"Hamlet" in 1911-12; he who was instrumental in the foundation of the =
 
second Studio in 1913. But it is the same Sulerzhitsky who has been put =
 
in charge of the DOUKHOBORS when they were taken to Canada in 1898-99. =
 
This sect, persecuted by the Russian Government because of religious =
 
beliefs, was protected by Count Lev=CAN. Tolstoi who gave all rights on h=
is =
 
novel "Resurrection" (1889-99) and gathered money from American and =
 
English Quakers to help 7,500 to migrate in SASKATCHEWAN. Their leader, =
 
Peter Verigin, having been emprisoned, Tolstoi had to find someone to =
 
organize that huge exile; Sulerzhitsky was chosen. He may have stayed in =
 
Canada until the arrival of Verigin in 1902.
 
Merci beaucoup!