A TALE OF THE LAST ANGEL
Theatre of Nations, Moscow
Presented in the frame of Russian Case 2020
Andrei Moguchy has created a charmingly beautiful and frightening fable about the Russian 90s. The post-Soviet space of crime and unlimited permissiveness is linked in his performance to the world of the Swan Princess, the Snow Maiden and Ryaba Hen – the main characters of Russian folklore. The time distance allows Moguchy to look at the era of the 90s as a place of myth, and this estrangement, on the one hand, allows him to give the story a timeless scale, and on the other – to connect it with today's reality. In addition to the sheer force of the approach, there is also an exciting story: three boys flee from a psychiatric hospital to confess their love to a girl. Over the course of the journey, they will have to overcome a series of challenges: to burn a batch of heroin, to admonish a prostitute and to defeat thieving cops.
The Moguchy`s performance is not at all didactic, and it doesn’t have an obvious meaning, just as the Motley Pullet doesn’t have it, which we are reminded of in the prologue. A tale that we can tell about ourselves includes a lot to process, and most importantly, creates a territory of general meaning. It is not necessary to formulate it, you can just feel it. Be aware of its presence. Be surprised. Even be happy. But you’re more likely cringing. Horror, actually.
The performance has an extraordinary literary basis: the prose by professor-mathematician, writer, philosopher and mystic Roman Mikhailov and the parable by the outstanding scriptwriters Lutsik and Samoryadov. The plot is full of visionary visions, breakthroughs in parallel realities and mysterious metamorphoses. The time of action is the crazy nineties, and this era, which gave rise to a lot of memes and socio-cultural allusions, is steadily arousing the interest. This is a story about a search: to find yourself and a higher truth the hero has to travel a long and difficult road and even die, in the end, to resurrect for a new life.
... the fate of characters who have been injured by the 1990s is opening up before us: on the one hand, this is a dashing and vague time of changes, loss of all landmarks, a time of devastation, economic decline and wars. On the other hand, the 1990s have already become Russian folklore, with its typical, absolutely fabulous characters, plots and mythology.
The heroes of the play are naive, strange people, "people of secrets." They live in the same world as we do, but they have a special vision - to see and feel the world in a different way. They can walk on invisible paths between reality and sleep, talk to the sky, hear the voices of grass and wind. Thanks to this ability they can be one with nature, be like children in the true sense, they can change what is commonly called in our world reality. They really can save the world with their sincerity and love.
The production by Moguchy, according to him is "a journey from birth to death through visions, signs and dreams." The performance takes place in the 1990s. The main character Andrei finds himself in a mental hospital, but it is there that he finds real friends and gets a chance to change his life.
Basic Production Information. Click here
Anastasia Pauker
The Moguchy`s performance is not at all didactic, and it doesn’t have an obvious meaning, just as the Motley Pullet doesn’t have it, which we are reminded of in the prologue. A tale that we can tell about ourselves includes a lot to process, and most importantly, creates a territory of general meaning. It is not necessary to formulate it, you can just feel it. Be aware of its presence. Be surprised. Even be happy. But you’re more likely cringing. Horror, actually.
Petersburg Theatre Magazine
The performance has an extraordinary literary basis: the prose by professor-mathematician, writer, philosopher and mystic Roman Mikhailov and the parable by the outstanding scriptwriters Lutsik and Samoryadov. The plot is full of visionary visions, breakthroughs in parallel realities and mysterious metamorphoses. The time of action is the crazy nineties, and this era, which gave rise to a lot of memes and socio-cultural allusions, is steadily arousing the interest. This is a story about a search: to find yourself and a higher truth the hero has to travel a long and difficult road and even die, in the end, to resurrect for a new life.
The Vanderlust
... the fate of characters who have been injured by the 1990s is opening up before us: on the one hand, this is a dashing and vague time of changes, loss of all landmarks, a time of devastation, economic decline and wars. On the other hand, the 1990s have already become Russian folklore, with its typical, absolutely fabulous characters, plots and mythology.
Moscow Seasons
The heroes of the play are naive, strange people, "people of secrets." They live in the same world as we do, but they have a special vision - to see and feel the world in a different way. They can walk on invisible paths between reality and sleep, talk to the sky, hear the voices of grass and wind. Thanks to this ability they can be one with nature, be like children in the true sense, they can change what is commonly called in our world reality. They really can save the world with their sincerity and love.
InStyle Magazine
The production by Moguchy, according to him is "a journey from birth to death through visions, signs and dreams." The performance takes place in the 1990s. The main character Andrei finds himself in a mental hospital, but it is there that he finds real friends and gets a chance to change his life.
The City Magazine
Basic Production Information. Click here
