Dying for It

Synopsis

Adapted from Nikolai Erdman's satirical comedy The Suicide. Dying For It centres on Semyon, unemployed, living in the hallway and watching his wife Masha slave all the hours God sends. When his last hope to earn a crust and gain some self-respect disappears, he decides to take his own life. Word gets out of his intention and he finds himself inundated with visitors begging him to die on their behalf. On the night he is to shoot himself they hold a party, at which point events spiral to a glorious climax.

Our Review:

16 March 2007

Nikolai Erdman’s exhilarating satirical comedy The Suicide (1928) – rather needlessly re-titled at the Almeida in Moira Buffini’s ebullient new version as Dying for It – was banned by Stalin and not seen in the Soviet Union until 1983 – four years after a famous RSC production starring Roger Rees as Semyon Semyonovich, the depressed, unemployed anti-hero.

It was one of the RSC’s most important discoveries and survived in their repertoire for three years. Since then, Derek Jacobi has enjoyed a great success in the play, Matthew Warchus directed a fizzing version for the National Youth Theatre and the fringe has had a couple of goes, too.

But Anna Mackmin’s revival is still likely to hit an audience like a tidal wave, such is the vitality of the playing and the brilliance of Tom Brooke – moth-eaten, angular, glassy-eyed and slightly deranged, a sort of anorexic, slow-witted Tommy Cooper – as Semyon. Unlike Rees or Jacobi, he is palp...

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Latest User Review

Gareth James - 19 April 2007:

A terrific adaptation, brilliantly staged on Les Brotherson's stunning set with a great ensemble acting their socks off. What more can you ask for? A treat....

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