Theater in NYC: Lambs for Slaughter by Russian Arts & Theater Studio
Russian Arts & Theater Studio has suspended the performances from March 10, 2020
Russian Arts & Theater Studio presents new play Lambs for Slaughter on March 1 – March 21, 2020 at Pushkin Hall in New York City
Aleksey Burago is never tired of expending the repertoire of Russian Arts and Theater Studio. After mounting a dynamic interpretation of Marquez’s The Rise and Fall of Macondo (One Hundred Years of Solitude), he turns to the short stories by Roald Dahl. Dahl, universally known as the author of the beloved children’s books “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda,” and “James and the Giant Peach,” also wrote grotesque stories for adults. Four of his stories, The Man From The South, The Landlady, Mrs. Bixby And The Colonel’s Coat and The Great Switcheroo are adapted for the stage by the playwright Fred Pezzulli. Commonplace character shortcomings from deception to greed make for an eccentric and captivating theatrical spectacle.
Barring the stubborn desire to outsmart others, there are no lambs and no one gets slaughtered on stage. The vignettes, widely diverse in time and place, are connected mainly by satirizing crass arrogance.
The show starts with the high suspense of “The Man From The South”. A banal encounter leads to a ridiculous bet which ends up in a bizarre finale. The segment owes to the great stage presence by Christofer Zach (Carlos) who sets the bar for the artistic aptitude. Di Zhu, well-known to the audience for her successful prior roles with the theater most notably in Bunin/Berberova play, shines as Mrs. Bixby in “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”. Two powerful actors, Paulo Quiros and Riccardo Ripani play one against the other with gusto and dynamism in “The Great Switcheroo”.
Burago’s creative addition of the sound-making crew to the stage, inventive use of props, and the soundtrack full of familiar melodies from the past fit organically into the storylines. Instructive and funny, each situation progresses from innocuous to risky to rout. With a little more zest and at least one more story in the sequence, the play could reach enough potency and rigor.
Lambs for Slaughter
Based on the short stories by Roald Dahl
Directed by Aleksey Burago
Adapted for the stage by Fred Pezzulli
Featuring: Luisa Menzen, Paulo Quiros, Riccardo Ripani, Christopher Zach, and Di Zhu
Dates: February 29 – March 21, 2020
Venue: Pushkin Hall, 165 W 86th St, New York, NY 10024
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