Diary of a Madman

Staged by acclaimed Russian-American director Aleksey Burago, Diary of a Madman is a first-person narrative presented in the form of a diary, adapted from Nikolai Gogol's famous short story by Di Zhu. It is the tale of Poprishchin, a lowly government clerk who gradually descends into madness. At the beginning, Poprischin records his frustrations and humiliations with restraint, rationalizing various attacks from society to his dignity. Over time, however, reason gives way to delusion and his schizophrenic mumblings spin out of control. Through journal entries, Poprishchin leads us through the corridors of his topsy-turvy world, from his hateful job and crush on his employer's daughter, to his encounters with letter-writing dogs, to the torture he undergoes at the hands of the Spanish "Inquisitor." Actor Tom Schubert comes spectacularly unhinged in the title role, along with Albert Baker, Luisa Menzen and Sarah O'Donnell who join forces to deliver over 30 characters!