Theater: "The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls" Opening in Durham NC This Weekend

Annie is off to visit her mother’s Russian homeland and claim a mysterious birthright. But in the country of Pushkin, the Politburo and Pussy Riot, she must battle witches, bears, and darker forces. Forget “Once upon a time” and “happily ever after’. In Russia, fairytales begin with: “They lived, they were” — and they end with “The End”.
Regional premiere. 2012 finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

From the Indy Week announcement:

THE FAIRYTALE LIVES OF RUSSIAN GIRLS

MANBITES DOG THEATER, DURHAM

THURSDAY, APRIL 23–SATURDAY, MAY 9

Artwork by Jamie Bell and Julian Fischer

Here's a theatrical mashup: Transplant the recombinant fairytale musicalInto the Woods onto the glittering boulevards and grittier side streets of Moscow in 2005. Oh, and replace that winsome, knowing Stephen Sondheim score with something a bit more visceral: a soundtrack inspired by dissident punk band Pussy Riot. Don't let the title fool you: In Meg Miroshnik's provocative, comical and cautionary play, a young American woman's pilgrimage to explore her family's Soviet Jewish heritage goes completely off the rails after her arrival.

Why? She discovers a culture still bewitched by—and inhabitants still acting out—archetypal stories of treacherous relatives who may or may not be witches, animalistic boyfriends, sleazy fairy godmothers and vengeful vegetables. Or, to put it another way: In Soviet Russia, the folk tales tell you. Manbites Dog Associate Artistic Director Jules Odendahl-James escorts us through this Cyrillic looking glass, with music by Bart Matthews. 8:15 p.m. Thurs. Sat. and Weds. May 6; 2 p.m. Sun. May 3, $5 $25, 703 Foster St., 919-682-3343, www.manbitesdogtheater.org. —Byron Woods

Check out this great little trailer - it's all 'told' in feet and shoes and to music. Very creative - very succinct:

In case you're not familiar with the play I have a blog post with quite a bit of background and and more on the play (and how it was inspired and written) that you can read HERE. 

I'd love to see this one day!