The Master and Margarita

Synopsis

Moscow in the age of Stalin and a mysterious stranger appears in a park. Soon he and his retinue have astonished the locals with the magic show to end all magic shows and have quite literally set the town alight. But what's the real purpose behind their visit? And what the devil has it to do with the gorgeous and sensual Margarita? Or with her lover the Master, a writer whose masterpiece has been silenced by earthly powers. Will anyone solve the mystery before the night of the spring full moon? A crazy roller-coaster, a wicked satire and a poignant love-story, with vampires, flying broomsticks and a talking cat. Contains nudity and some violent imagery.

Latest User Review

steveatplays - 7 April 2012:

The first half is clever but bitty, as you'd expect from crushing this novel into a three hour play. Satan's story is cut most significantly, making way for the story of Pontius Pilate and Jesus to take centre stage. The production is beautiful, as fantastical projections on the back wall prove epic, and effortlessly merge with the action. Comedy is primary here, as an allo-allo style German Satan (poor Germans, always demonised), in dark glasses and carrying a walking stick, gives atheism a kicking (slicing off a head of one hapless communist), and a walking talking cat with red eyes offers to shag everyone in the stalls. The second half is genius, as the (Margarita and the Master) love story of one naked woman's descent into hell to save her writer boyfriend concentrates all the force of grand expressionism and stunning motion and imagery into channeling the redemptive power of love. Ivan loves the Master's storytelling; Margarita loves the Master so much she sells her soul; Pontius Pilate, the subject of the Master's novel, loves Jesus so much he sacrifices happiness; the Master loves Pontius Pliate so much he redeems him through storytelling. It's all love love love at the conclusion and it works wonderfully well. The performances of Paul Rhys as the self-torturing Master (he also mugs it up as Satan), of Sinead Matthews as a bold nude Margarita and Tim McMullan (his lugubrious voice emanating from between his upper palate and nasal cavity) as a trapped frustrated and depressed Pilate are particularly good....

Read more and add your own review

Related Whatsonstage.com Articles

Plays Cast: Full Almeida Filumena, Master & Margarita More»