The Crooked Mirror: Plays from a Modernist Russian Cabaret

The Crooked Mirror was a Russian cabaret of the Silver Age that parodied theatrical practice, naturalism, symbolism, futurism, and Meyerholditis. It mocked melodrama and opera conventions and stylized trends in staging, using satire to provoke artistic and social reform. This anthology fills a critical gap in our understanding of the era by bringing together key plays with biographies of their authors and commentary and annotations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2023
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

The Crooked Mirror, the renowned Russian cabaret of the Silver Age, was a haven for parody, taking aim at theatrical practice with a mischievous wit. Its eclectic targets included naturalism, symbolism, futurism, and the theatrical style known as "Meyerholditis." With a sharp tongue, the Saint Petersburg theater ridiculed melodrama, opera, and the overly stylized staging trends of the time. Instead of relying on conventional storytelling, it employed satire as a powerful tool to challenge artistic conventions and spark social reform. While the Crooked Mirror was eventually shut down in 1931, its innovative techniques and bold approach to satire would leave a lasting impact on cabaret repertoires and improv revues. As a significant cultural phenomenon of the Silver Age, the Crooked Mirror has yet to receive the attention it deserves in histories of Russian theater and biographies of its prominent figures. This anthology aims to rectify that by presenting a collection of key plays, many of which are published in English for the first time, along with concise biographies of their authors and comprehensive commentary and annotations. Laurence Senelick, a renowned scholar of Russian theater, serves as a guide, illuminating the artistic and ideological evolution of the Crooked Mirror and offering performers valuable insights to revive its innovative spirit on stage.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810146143