The Suicide, Theatre Art Studio
Russian-English
3 hours
20 min
Stage Russia screening series
Co-presentation with Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
THE SUICIDE
Written by Nikolai Erdman
Theatre Art Studio
Sergey Zhenovach’s adaptation of Nikolai Erdman’s comedy centers around a young, unemployed man desperate enough to contemplate ending it all. As soon as he declares his will to die he finds himself surrounded by a variety of characters begging him to kill himself as a gesture for their cause. Flattered by this noteriety but panicked at the prospect of actually having to go through with it, he must find a way out that somehow leaves his dignity intact.
The play, originally written in 1928, forms a link in Russian literary history between the satirical mastery of Nikolai Gogol and the post-World War II Theatre of the Absurd.
Video & photo: Alexander Ivanishin
Language: Russian
Translation: English subtitles
Running time: 3 hours (with one intermission)
Cast
- Podsekalnikov – Vyacheslav Evlantiev
- Maria, wife – Evgenia Gromova
- Serafima, mother-in-law – Anastasia Imamova
- Kalabushkin – Alexey Vertkov
- Peryesvetova – Maria Shashlova
- Grand-Skubik – Grigory Sluzhitel
- Yegor Timofeevich – Sergey Kachanov
- Pugachov, a butcher – Igor Lizengevich
- Viktor, a writer – Alexander Proshin
- Father Yelpidy, a priest – Sergey Abroskin
- Cleopatra Maksimovna – Olga Kalashnikova
- Raisa Filippovna – Tatiana Volkova
- Old woman – Polina Pushkaruk
- Oleg Leonidovich – Ivan Yankovsky
- Young man – Gleb Puskepalis
- Milliner – Katerina Vasilyeva
- Waiters – Nodar Siradze, Alexander Suvorov
- Tuba Band led by Victor Kozlov
Creative Team
- Stage adaptation and direction – Sergey Zhenovach
- Set Design – Alexander Borovsky
- Lighting Design – Damir Ismagilov
- Composer – Grigory Gobernik