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.

THE SUICIDE
Written by Nikolai Erdman
Theatre Art Studio

Presented in Russian with English subtitles
​
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.

Creative Team

​
Stage adaptation and direction – Sergey Zhenovach
Set Design – Alexander Borovsky
Lighting Design – Damir Ismagilov
Composer – Grigory Gobernik

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