In brief
In the Manhattan Theater Club’s stirring drama 'Vladimir,' a journalist's battle against authoritarianism hits home amid election season fervor.
Erika Sheffer's compelling production 'Vladimir,' staged by the Manhattan Theater Club and directed by Daniel Sullivan, delves into the perilous life of Raya Bobrinskaya, a journalist in Putin's Russia. The play, featuring dynamic performances by Francesca Faridany and Olivia Deren Nikkanen, explores themes of democracy and political extremism. Raya faces the ultimate risk of her job—being poisoned—as she relentlessly fights abuses of power in a society on the brink. With tension building from a slow start to an exhilarating conclusion, the play is an urgent reflection on the choices between bravery and silence in times of political crisis. As an apt election season essay, 'Vladimir' speaks volumes about contemporary struggles against rising global extremism.
