Mayakovsky and Stalin

See it if to see a study of the lives of several key figures in Stalinist Russia via a literate cautionary tale about the collision of art & politics.

Don't see it if you're not interested in Soviet Russian history; you require a linear storyline; you prefer visual spectacle to a loquacious play of ideas.

See it if the early decades of the Soviet Union, its art & its human tragedy interest you.

Don't see it if you’re looking for a Dr. Zhivago knock-off.

Also Murray Mednick was doing innovative theater work a half century ago & still is. “Mayakovsky and Stalin,” which he wrote & staged, teases the brain & stops the heart. The strong, 8-person ensemble of West-coast actors is always onstage. Mednick takes his staging cues from Russian Constructivism, & his analytic script feels like it derives its aesthetic tenets from the critical writings of Osip Brik, a character in the play. Despite the intellectual rigor with which it stages historical “events,” it’s deeply affecting, not least because 2 suicides anchor the plot. A series of scenes between Stalin’s 2nd wife & her maid, braided through the action, though “abstract” arguments about god & life, pack an enormous emotional punch because of the clear turmoil it causes in the characters. There are flaws. We never feel Mayakovsky’s raw sexuality. Lily Brik & her husband, delightfully louche in act 1, nearly disappear in act 2. But so much about the writing & the production is thrilling!... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy Russian history and cultural norms of that period, you will think favorably of this play.

Don't see it if Russian history is not your thing.

See it if You've always wanted to go to a show that was so boring you left during the intermission. Boring, confusing, lots of screaming. Uggh.

Don't see it if You don't leave during intermissions. I seriously considered listening to a podcast.

See it if I love this period of history and this could have been an opportunity to parallel current politics but bad acting, & long monologues

Don't see it if dragged down this blurry confused production. With the exception of the fabulous artwork and amazing wall projections,this was excruciating

Also Mayakovsky is such a bold poet-- where were his words-- the state- of revolution. This was an ambitious premise that looked like it needed to be workshopped longer. The death of Stalin's wife as the catalyst for all the intricate storytelling was clever--and the characters chosen were compelling-- but it just didn't work as is.... Read more Read less

See it if You're interested in well-acted historical plays and open to creative presentation.

Don't see it if You're looking for a lot of action or multiple set and costume changes. It's complex in its ideas, not in its staging (which is well done).

See it if You are a student of Soviet era art and politics and just can't get enough about them.

Don't see it if You have limited knowledge about and interest in Soviet era art and politics.

See it if you like narrated plays about historical people and how they interlock. Are interested in the effect totalitarians have on others.

Don't see it if you like a linear narrative or mind a lot a narration in general. Mind interlocking but not overlapping narratives.

Also the first act doesn't really work as it takes a long time to get into the structure and I think there is too much narration. The second act is stronger as the structure starts to work as you see the two stories about Maykovsky and Nadya as interlocking in their disillusionment with communism and their inability to find meaning in a world where they have no faith and their mission is false. Stalin, the true man of faith but for communism and who scoffs at other faiths, righteously and ruthlessly pursues his goals callous to the misery even right next to him. The play hits on multiple contemporary problems and I think excellently. The two issues, the first act is tedious and Maykovsky is less interesting than Nadya and so I at time was frustrated with the play.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in the history and characters of early Russian communism.

Don't see it if Came away feeling I wouldn't pass the final exam.

See it if You enjoy excellent writing with a stellar cast supported by superb staging and lighting. An intelligent insight.

Don't see it if You are used to fluff and have no attention span.

See it if you are interested in Russian history, and are well read on Stalin's evil legacy.

Don't see it if you have no interest in Russian political and cultural history.

Also I did not know about Vladimir Mayakovsky, the Russian futurist poet and playwright, before seeing this play, but the juxtaposition with Joseph Stalin in this play robs him of any due literary and intellectual recognition Mr. Murray Mednick might have meant to give him with the writing of this play. As written for the stage, he's reduced to a womanizing gambler with bad teeth, who offs himself at 36 and hardly deserves any mention.

I found the framing of this play all wrong. Mayakovsky and Stalin are terrible on the stage together. Yet they are compelling historical figures within their own context. Mayakovsky for representing his disillusioned intellectual generation who turned on the revolution when he realized its brutal grip on violence. And Stalin, because now, more than ever, at a time when political dictatorship is spreading the world over like an unchecked epidemic, needs to be dissected, diagnosed, intimately rationalized so people may recognize its symptoms within our society... Read more Read less

See it if unusual and smart play, with excellent acting and production values and some good emotional scenes - but cerebral otherwise

Don't see it if conflict in concept: too much exposition (probably necessary but) overwhelming for a novice and primitive for someone who knows the period

See it if you are interested in Russian history/literature; would like to see some good acting in a small but intellectual piece.

Don't see it if You want a plot driven play or don't have a lot of patience for a rather slow production.

Also A recording of Mayakovsky reading his poetry is available online. This production portrayed him largely as a whining, gambling, alcoholic kvetch, and showed little of his charisma or public appeal. This is a sloooow, but thoughtful piece: it was engrossing, but could have been much better.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in the period and enjoy extensive exposition and a finely-tuned production with great performances

Don't see it if You want quick pacing, plot, and drama

Also More:
Mednick carefully builds a devastating portrait of the monstrous historical figure through vignettes involving those in Stalin's personal circle: his smart, desperate and despairing wife Nadya; the inspired and suffering poet Mayakovsky and his lover Lilya among them. Especially impressive work by Max Faugno, who deftly moves in and out of the past as Stalin’s friend and confidant Kirov, while also playing the role of the contemporary commentator/chorus.... Read more Read less

See it if You like politics.

Don't see it if You find politics and history unappealing

See it if you enjoy plays rooted in some sort of history

Don't see it if you bore easily by historic plays

See it if You like character studies and unique, complicated relationships

Don't see it if You like your plays linear and plot-driven

See it if you are a history buff and fascinated with the personal intrigues of historical figures.

Don't see it if If you are suffering from attention deficit issues, this play is wordy and erudite. You will lose the thread of the plot

See it if you would like to see outstanding actors in an excellent, thought-provoking play.

Don't see it if you dislike non-linear plots

Also I find it hard to understand the negative reviews that this play has received on Show-Score. The actors and staging are excellent. Maybe the problem is that the play is very non-linear. The main points of the plot are established very early and then the play circles around these points ... however this works. Highly recommended!... Read more Read less

See it if You like torturously long stories that are historically inaccurate.

Don't see it if If you don’t like confusing gibberish coming from actors who tend to emote.

See it if Stalin's wife repeatedly commits suicide in act I; Stalin ponders need for strong future; & Maykovsky fools himself. A mess.

Don't see it if you want to learn about Stalin or Mayakovsky. Wikipedia, flawed though it is, has more info on them & their cohorts than this play.

Also As a longtime student of Russian history & poets I thought this would prove interesting. It wasn't.

While some roles were well played--e.g. Soviet movie star Lilya Yuryevna Brik (Laura Liguori) & the narrator, or Chorus (Max Faugno), others left as much to be desired as the script.

That tried to present the thoughts of Stalin, his 2nd wife Nadya & Mayakovsky, but failed, as we know little about what they thought to themselves. Pure speculation.

The play's a sophomoric mess. So sorry I can't recommend it more highly, but this was a circular empty bore, despite decent acting.

One could just as well ask "What was he thinking" of the playwright & director as his script asks about Stalin & artists & other figures who orbited him. As shown here, they fruitlessly chased their tails.

In fact, 10,000s satellites circled Stalin within his evil empire; he had a great many tried on phony charges & shot.

In all, Stalin ordered perhaps 60 or 100 million murdered--which this does not reflect.... Read more Read less

See it if Only if you must to support someone from the cast and she/he will not forgive you if you skip

Don't see it if Just love yourself and save 2 hours of your life by simply not going. You will not learn anything or see something worth seen

Also First preview and...tradition, tradition: 20 minutes delay because of "technical problem." Can it be checked in advance?Definitely! Some pieces of the old chronicle mixed with kid's level computer design projected on the back wall. All characters are on stage and Chorus calls them to do their part. Two the most often used phrases :"bad teeth" and "Jews". The show is not trying to show the connection or similarities between Stalin's wife, Nadya, and Russian poet Mayakovsky suicides, they just mention it several times during first part and have Nadya look and walk zombie-like style.... Read more Read less

See it if Lack of cohesion, too much aggrandizing rhetoric and ideological fury. Difficult to follow.

Don't see it if You do not like historical plays

See it if Very disappointing play. I found it long, tedious and boring agreeing with most of the reviewers so far. The acting however was okay.

Don't see it if You're looking for a somewhat fast paced, cohesive, and understandable play.

See it if interested in the Stalin era

Don't see it if impatient

Also This one offers a limited glimpse into Russia in the early 1900s and serves as a great vehicle for its actors.
Unfortunately, it is not as accomplished as a play:
- it stays flat; there is a lack of development in general and many individual scenes could have used a "yes, and" rather than portray such basic conflicts.
- for such a potent era, very little is actually said. Many moments are mundane, offering little insight or context; they might as well have been overheard at a local Starbucks.

The author is a veteran of the stage. I am surprised that while his love for this project and his sure hand in directing were on display, his skill as a writer failed him.... Read more Read less