Flight

Flight/Бег

by Mikhail Bulgakov/Михаил Булгаков

Director-Yury Butusov/Юрий Бутусов

Vakhtangov Theatre/Вахтангов

run time-3 hours and 50 minutes with one intermission

“FLIGHT” is a hallmark work in Mikhail Bulgakov’s list of works. The author’s wife, Elena Bulgakova remembered: “It was Mikhail Afanasievich’s favorite play; he loved it like a mother loves her child.”

Valentin Kaverin wrote: “FLIGHT” destroys conventional boundaries of the genre; one moment it is a psychological drama, another it is a phantasmagoria almost completely discordant with realistic view of the outside world.”

The theatrical history of “FLIGHT” was not without challenges. After its rehearsals at MXAT were banned in 1928, the question of staging “FLIGHT” was brought up four times at the sessions of Politburo. The authorities never allowed the second presentation after the production of “The Days of the Turbin Family” which depicted White Army officers as characters on the stage. The play was never staged within the author’s lifetime, which was “almost a catastrophe” for Mikhail Bulgakov. The first performance of “FLIGHT” took place in 1957 in Stalingrad.

“This play actually has no theatrical history to mention. Seven of more or less known productions in 87 years is almost nothing. This fact is rather surprising, with account of the play being perceived as a masterpiece. As it seems to me, the matter is not about its sharply critical social nature… but about a mysterious theatrical pattern, about the impossibility to find a stage equivalent to Bulgakov’s incredible remarks, and to the text itself delivered by the characters living in this play.

For instance, such remark as: “Rising to perilous heights…” What is it? Can it be acted? How? Yet how wonderful it is! No need to search for ground to produce the play in events of real life – this is a dead-end only narrowing the search and the topic.

“For me, “FLIGHT” is the state of a man, awaking from a dream where he was chased by nightmares and strange visions… and in the morning, he finds peace again… He is alone, everything is quiet, and his family sleeps in the next room… everything is all right… he is calm and happy…” Yuri Butusov.

Yuri Butusov has already worked with Vakhtangov Theater actors before. In 2010 he produced “Measure for Measure” by William Shakespeare. The play was successfully shown in London at Shakespeare’s theater, the Globe, within the framework of the international festival of Shakespeare’s plays entitled “Globe to Globe” in 2012. This production was recognized as the favorite play of the London theatrical season.

Summary:

The defeat of the "White Army" in the Russian Civil War of 1918-21, causing massive emigration of the upper classes and nobility, called "White Russians". Set in Crimea, Constantinopol and Paris. The Russian Civil War and emigration is shown through the eyes of the defeated Tsarist Generals - Vrangel, Khludov, Charnota, as well as intellectuals and aristocracy. Amidst the chaos of emigration rough generals Khludov and Charnota become involved in the unfolding love story of professor Golubkov and Serafima. While General Khludov is having hallucinations about the Civil War, General Charnota is more tough and practical. He goes to Paris to frame a wealthy Russian tycoon Korzukhin to support his former wife Serafima and other suffering Russian emigrants.