Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita at Theater 86
Marcus David
November 2024
Attention! The Devil is loose in Moscow and fortunately for us Theater 86 is extending its run of their critically acclaimed adaption of Master and Margarita to include 16 performances in January of 2025. For fans of the beloved novel by Mikhail Bulgakov this is a theater event not to be missed. Nestled in the heart of the upper west side, Theater 86 is on a mission to bring the rich traditions of Slavic theater arts and literature to contemporary audiences in New York City. With numerous critically-acclaimed plays as well as stage adaptations of novels under their belt, they are currently offering up Master and Margarita, and it is a real doozy.
Sadly, Bulgakov (1891-1940) never lived to see Master and Margarita published. He died never knowing that his unpublished manuscript would go on to be regarded as a masterpiece of Russian literature. Although Bulgakov did publish some amazing works during his lifetime in the former Soviet Union, namely Diaboliad, The Fatal Eggs (1924), and Heart of a Dog (1925), government censorship and terrible reviews by critics lead him to desperation and severe mental anguish, not unlike the Master in the story. This cruel demonstration of fate simply adds to the allure Master and Margarita evokes. Frequently adapted for film, theater and television with many mixed results, Theater 86 bravely throws its hat into the ring and delivers a solid production of this deeply dark comedy.
The production strikes a traditional tone with a wild and seductive cast, exuberantly bringing the Devil, aka Dr. Woland, and his entourage of wicked henchmen to life with over-the-top comedic energy, often overpowering the horror of what they are here to do. Contrasting this motley crew are the scenes concerning love and religion that are handled in a much quieter and sober manner, but chaos is always quick to ensue as Behemoth, Korovyev, Azazello and Hella are never far and always ready to riot guided by their ringleader, Dr. Woland, enthusiastically played with much more vigor than expected.
The stage set itself has a vaudevillian vibe with paintings by Valery Yershov, and its close proximity to the audience puts the action in your face, giving the performance an extra sense of urgency and insanity. In balancing horror, comedy, social commentary and religion, director Aleksey Burago makes this production of The Master and Margarita a gem that is sure to please and its extended run is gift to upper west siders and New Yorkers alike.
Direction, Stage and Lighting Design by Aleksey Burago
Set Paintings by Valery Yershov
Stage Adaptation by Jean-Claude van Itallie
Projections and Sound Design by Di Zhu
Costume Design by Di Zhu and Sarah O’Donnell
Lighting Technician Lucky Gilberto
Show Photography by Julie Skarratt
Note From Director
Dear Guests,
Thank you for joining us to support Theater 86, formerly known as the Russian Arts Theater and Studio. We are thrilled to share our interpretation of Bulgakov’s timeless novel with you. Friends from Eastern Europe may agree that there is no story more widely read than Master and Margarita. Written during the darkest days of Stalin’s reign, this satire is set in a world of communal apartments, secret police, spies, and mysterious disappearances, where art existed to serve only the state. Bulgakov himself faced extreme censorship and wrote his novel fully aware that it would not be published in his lifetime. It was an era when neighbors and colleagues would betray each other over trivial matters, and everyone lived with the constant fear of being watched and reported on.
We believe that Bulgkaov resisted this oppressive world by creating a joyful chaos, magic and poking fun at everything deemed sacred by the masses. It is through this lens that we have rehearsed and explored his story. While there may be numerous interpretations of a novel held dear by so many, we hope to convey our message together with you. This book holds a special place in hearts of many around the world, and it is thanks to Bulgakov’s courage that our paths are passing tonight. We appreciate your support for independent theater and hope you enjoy the show.
Sincerely,
Aleksey Burago
Theater 86
165 West 86th Street, NYC
For more information and to read the Playbill →
Theater 86 is an award-winning, not-for-profit theater company based in New York City. Originally founded in 2004 as The Russian Arts Theater and Studio, the theater was created with the hopes of sharing the rich traditions of Slavic theater arts and literature with contemporary audiences in America. Additionally, a studio was created to pass on the unique Stanislavsky theater training to actors. Since its founding, the company has gone on to stage numerous productions throughout stages in New York, providing critically-acclaimed plays as well as stage adaptations of beloved novels. Past works include works by Ivan Bunin, Mikhail Bulgakov, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Gogol, Maxim Gorky, Alexander Pushkin, George Orwell, Roald Dahl and more. Inside the intimate Pushkin Hall on West 86th street, the company built shows with actors from all backgrounds—Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, France, Germany, Italy, Guinea-Bissau, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, China, Israel, Turkey, Armenia, Australia, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Serbia. At our core, we are New York emigres—misfits who live in this cramped and over-priced city because we value its diversity, varied opinions and the freedom to express them. As our repertoire began to reflect the faces that gave voices to them, we looked for a new name that was void of a singular nationality. It is with this in mind that we changed our company to Theater 86.