The central character of the play, Fedor Protasov, is tormented by the belief that his wife Liza has never really chosen between him and the more conventional Victor Karenin, a rival for her hand. He wants to kill himself, but doesn't have the nerve. Running away from his life, he first falls in with Gypsies, and into a sexual relationship with a Gypsy singer, Masha.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Vsevolod PudovkinFyodor Protasov | Fyodor Protasov |
 Maria JacobiniYelizaveta Andreyevna Protasova | Yelizaveta Andreyevna Protasova |
 Viola GardenSasha, Yelizaveta's sister | Sasha, Yelizaveta's sister |
 Julia SerdaAnna Pavlovna | Anna Pavlovna |
 Nato VachnadzeMasha, gypsy girl | Masha, gypsy girl |
 Gustav DiesslKarenin | Karenin |
 Vladimir UralskiyPetushkov | Petushkov |
 Vera MaretskayaPretty lady | Pretty lady |
 Daniil VvedenskiyArtemyev | Artemyev |
 Porfiri PodobedPriest | Priest |
 Pyotr RepninNot listed | Not listed |
 Boris BarnetPickpocket | Pickpocket |
 Vladimir TsoppiFyodor, friend of Protasov's | Fyodor, friend of Protasov's |
 Mikhail ZharovHired witness (uncredited) | Hired witness (uncredited) |
| AAleksandr YermakovNot listed | Not listed |