By Chris Struck***For those curious about the storied and rich history of Russian art, Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin In Our Own Words, created by Dmitry Krymovat, at The Bric, explored an “artist with words,” describing poet Alexander Pushkin as the Shakespeare of Russian literature. While that art form is deep and profound, the narrative posits that Pushkin was 
transformative in the genre, unlocking the “too-tight” jacket on the writing, and cultivating instead an ability to deeply express sentiments of freedom and love.
To showcase the brilliance of Pushkin, the show takes a deep dive into his story of Eugene Onegin, about a dandy who finds himself at a loss, living a life devoid of meaning, and suffering from chronic depression. The cast, including principals Jeremy Radin, Jackson Scott, Elizabeth Stahlmann and Anya Zicer, were exemplary in their roles. The beauty of how these actors share the story, and the way it develops, is that the “point of it” is only revealed at the end, when the characters suddenly “look back” on life. Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin In Our Own Words is essentially an absurdist work, often funny, especially in delivering complex li
nes with slapstick humor. Initially staged in the guise of “a children’s show,” the emotional weight of the text still hits hard as the trajectory of the play transitions to more complexity
At the opening, a trio keeps a feather floating in the air, describing how old Russian theater tropes had angels in the sky and demons in the trapdoor, rising from below. Puppet “children” (created by designers Leah Ogawa and Luna Gomberg) are seen in combination with adults actors to create action and recite text. Eugene Onegin, who has inherited the estate of his late uncle, finally appears as an apple, suffering from “spleen.” It transpires that the normal objects of life, including a truffle fork, no longer interest Onegin. A young woman, who speaks only French, becomes intensely infatuated with him, writing him “the most beautiful love letter in all the history of the world.” But over the course of a series of nonsensical but common events, love doesn’t 
blossom and the characters go their separate ways. Finally, the actors ingeniously sum up the story showing how the passage of time affects us all, causing a failure to appreciate the past, future and present at the same time, leading to a failure to take action.
A short play, it was none the less a “must-see” for me. Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin In Our Own Words was entertaining, fun and relaxed, providing plenty of moments for simple laughs, while offering something to think about.
Photos by Bronwen Sharp
