Mad money

Mad Money. Premiere

Premiere of the St. Petersburg State Musical and Drama Theater "ART"

The "ART" Theater will present the comedy "Mad Money," based on the play of the same name by Alexander Ostrovsky, directed by Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Isakov. The play offers the audience more than just another interpretation of a classic text, but a lively, dynamic, and profound reflection on timeless themes that resonate more acutely today than ever. A.N. Ostrovsky masterfully combines fast-paced intrigue, vibrant characters, and witty dialogue. Some characters are accustomed only to spending, others to earning. Who will prevail? And will there be room for true emotion in this game?

The action unfolds in 19th-century Moscow, where the outward glamour of aristocratic salons conceals financial insolvency and debt. In this world, two camps clash: nobles accustomed to living beyond their means, and the new generation—businessmen and entrepreneurs—confident that "it's entirely possible to get rich these days!" One of them is Savva Vasilkov, a provincial landowner who arrives in the capital with ambition and a talent for business. His fatal passion is the brilliant Lydia Cheboksarova, a beauty for whom marriage is a cynical deal to maintain her social standing. A calculated engagement turns into a tense confrontation between two worlds.

Alexander Isakov turns to the classics to address the issue of moral choice in a vivid and contemporary way. "Ostrovsky's play was relevant yesterday, it is relevant today, and I am sure it will always be relevant," says director Alexander Isakov. "The pursuit of wealth, which replaces genuine feelings and principles, resonates more acutely today than ever before. We are interested in what remains of a person when money becomes the only goal. The play makes you wonder where the line is, crossing which you can lose yourself."

One of the key themes explored by Alexander Isakov in his new work is the "deficit of feelings" in the modern world. "Money is money, but when the main character truly falls in love, everyone around him plays cruel pranks," the director reflects. "Every year, I increasingly miss tenderness and compassion in people. Somehow, everyone has become more materialistic, cruder, more pragmatic. It is precisely this soulfulness hidden in Ostrovsky's play that I will try to reveal and convey to the audience."

The artistic design of the play, developed by production designer Elena Zayats, combines tradition and innovation. The action begins in a theater box, creating a "theater within a theater" effect: the characters temporarily break the "fourth wall," addressing the audience directly, heightening engagement and emphasizing the playful nature of the proceedings. The striking contrast between the two spaces—the Cheboksarovs' luxurious living room and the poor, dilapidated room in the second act—becomes a tangible embodiment of social inequality and the characters' opposing life attitudes.

The strong cast includes recognized masters and prominent representatives of the younger generation. The roles are played by People's Artist of the Russian Federation Era Ziganshina and Vera Egorova (Nadezhda Antonovna Cheboksarova), Evgenia Glotova and Serafima Kovalchuk (Lidiya Yuryevna), Kirill Dolgov (Savva Vasilkov), as well as People's Artist of the Russian Federation Valery Nikitenko, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Sergey Rebriy, Anton Krasikov, Daniil Kalinkin, and Dmitry Dmitriev.

Tickets are sold at a single rate. There are no discounts.

Children aged 0 and over must purchase a full-price ticket.

All Tickets WITHOUT SERVICE FEE!