Theater in NYC: Diary of a Madman by Gogol

June 5, 2023June 5, 2023 arts-NY

Theater in NYC: Diary of a Madman by Gogol

Russian Arts & Theater Studio presents new play Diary of a Madman from June 2 – August 5, 2023 at Pushkin Hall in New York City

Tom Schubert as Poprischin in Diary of a Madman by Gogol at the Russian Arts Theater and Studio / Photo credit: Julie Skarratt

This season the Russian Arts Theater and Studio adds another robust production to its repertoire. This time it’s a play based on a short story by Nikolai Gogol “Diary of a Madman.”

Masterfully adapted for the stage by Di Zhu, the Managing Director, and directed by Aleksey Burago, the Artistic Director, the grey life of a resentful clerk swirls into madness in front of your eyes. Talented Tom Schubert in the title role keeps everyone at the tips of his nervous fingers. His pulsing energy and impeccable acting are the engine of the production. The rest of the cast, which includes Albert Baker, Luisa Menzen, and Sarah O’Donnell, skillfully recreates the fantastical and ordinary scenes with tasteful naughtiness and imperviousness to the absurdity around them. As the world spins out of control and the bleak routine turns from peculiar to surreal to outright mad, so is the storyline.

“Diary of a Madman” fits right in to the list of past theatrical productions staged by the Russian Arts Theater and Studio, including a dynamic interpretation of Marquez’s The Rise and Fall of Macondo (One Hundred Years of Solitude), warn and funny “Lambs for Slaughter” from the short stories by Roald Dahl, stunning Bunin/Berberova play among others.

Theater lovers will undoubtedly appreciate this high-powered staging and the remarkable acting.

Diary of a Madman

Based on the short story by Nikolai Gogol

Directed by Aleksey Burago

Adapted for the stage by Di Zhu

Cast:

Tom Schubert (Poprischin),

Albert Baker (Director),

Luisa Menzen (Sophie),

Sarah O’Donnell (Mavra/Madge)

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diary-of-a-madman-tickets-631006697017

Dates: June 2 – August 5 , 2023

Venue: Pushkin Hall, 165 W 86th St, New York, NY 10024

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Theater in NYC: Lambs for Slaughter by Russian Arts & Theater Studio

March 3, 2020March 13, 2020 contact@arts-ny.com

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

Russian Arts & Theater Studio cast in a scene from Lambs for Slaughter / Photo credit Tom Schubert

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

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Dates: February 29 – March 21, 2020

Venue: Pushkin Hall, 165 W 86th St, New York, NY 10024

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Theater in NYC: Popcorn Falls at the Davenport Theater Off-Broadway

October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 contact@arts-ny.com

Theater in NYC: Popcorn Falls at the Davenport Theater Off-Broadway

Hilarious, witty, and heartwarming story about small-town problems artfully told with lots of energy and genuine acting; through January 6, 2019

Adam Heller as Mr. Trundle and Tom Souhrada as Joe in a scene from Popcorn Falls — Adam Heller and Tom Souhrada; photo by Monique Carboni

Welcome to Popcorn Falls, a small town in a hinterland which only attraction and a claim to fame was a now-defunct waterfall! When the river flow was diverted to a next-door town, the parched land seemed to open up all the problems for people of Popcorn Falls. Out of nowhere a salvation for the town presents itself in a form of an improbable grant which invigorates everyone in town and on stage. If only those grants come about more often.

The story, masterfully delivered by an unstoppable pair of comedic actors Tom Souhrada and Adam Heller, is tender, eager and hard-to-believe at the same time. The actors’ sincerity coupled with the script’s entertaining yet warm jokes about broken promises, everyday misfortunes, and local misfits keeps the audience engaged and laughing throughout the performance. In fact, the audience is in a way serves as town residents or the participants in the town hall meetings. The play with its fast-paced acting is suited so well for a small and cozy Davenport Theater, that at times it feels that the stage is filled with a troop of actors. That is a true mastery of the duo that manages to play all 12-odd characters almost simultaneously. Treat yourself to an entertaining night out at Popcorn Falls! The play runs through January 6, 2019.

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Tag: play