Evgeny Kapitonov

Romantic John the Fool and his friend Foal set out on a series of unpredictable adventures in different magical worlds. The two buddies will have to outsmart an evil tyrant king, catch the firebird, and find John’s true love.

A mysterious Dark Horseman slays young girls near the village of Dikanka, and he has already butchered 11 ladies. Nikolai Gogol, a scribe from Saint Petersburg has to take charge of the investigation, but the closer he gets to solving the case, the more fits he has, causing macabre visions. When he learns the next victim is his beloved, Liza, he doubts that he can protect her and resist the murderer. Fortunately, he meets somebody who can help him: Khoma Brut, the witch hunter, martial artist and philosopher. Together they spend three dreadful nights in an old chapel reading the funeral service for Ulyana, the witch, and calling upon the ghastly evil spirit Viy.

1829: Nikolay Gogol, troubled Third Section clerk, burns his own books. Epileptic seizures plague him. Investigator Yakov Guro discovers Gogol's visions hold crime-solving clues. Together, they tackle a baffling case in Dikanka, where everyone hides a dark secret.

Soon after Gogol's death, Binh names him guilty for the deaths of the Cossacks and the young women at the hands of the Dark Horseman, since he was the one who ordered them to be hidden in the barn. Bomgart is unable to perform a post-mortem analysis on the Gogol's body, while Vakula's daughter Vasilina (who secretly has magic abilities) proclaims denial about Gogol's demise.

Three amazing stories about love and friendship, about faith in a dream and the connection of generations, about how not to betray yourself and remain human in any life situation. In the age of technology, people are used to rushing, running, making money, while forgetting about the main thing - about themselves and their true desires. It seems to us that we will become happier as soon as we have a new car or a high salary. And everything is much simpler - the secret of happiness is hidden in the soul of every person: in the ability to believe in miracles, make friends, love, be courageous, follow your dream!

Young prince Aleksandr has to hold out against two enemies - the Horde in the east and the Teutonic order and Sweden in the west. He discovers that some boyars are plotting against him and are ready to betray Novgorod to the Swedes and the Germans to boost their trade. Meanwhile, his best friend falls under suspicion, as somebody tries to poison the young prince at his own wedding feast. Aleksandr has no way out - to defend his people against the invaders and to find the true poisoner.

Varvara was born in Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century. And the first wedding she saw was her mother’s wedding. Years passed, the girl grew, matured, the world around changed ... Her generation had to go through many trials - revolution, military communism, NEP, war ... At the weddings that Varvara had a chance to visit, every era and love story was captured in snapshots a life.

A performance by the Alexandrinsky Theatre based on the eponymous play by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The production is based on the stage version by Vsevolod Meyerhold and M. Korenyev (GOSTIM, 1926), directed by Valery Fokin.