After a lengthy hiatus, Slovak dramatist Oswald Zahradnik, famous for his "Solo for Striking Clock," is back again on the Russian stage, this time at the Gogol Theater. The staging is by Yevgenia Kemarskaya and Sergei Yashin and the play, originally called "Shelter," has been retitled for Moscow audiences as "We'll Make it to Milan."

Is it possible for complete strangers who are different in everything, from age to social status, to become as close-knit as a family? The Gogol Theater's production answers with a resounding "yes."

Five disparate people come together under one roof in the modest home of the passionate and optimistic old lady Ester played by Tamara Chernyshova. There is the elderly Shimon, father of a prosperous parliament member (Yevgeny Krasnitsky); the failed suicide Vendela (Alexander Mezentsev); a romantic although incurably ill young man, Lukash (Ivan Shibanov) and a lady-at-large, Linda (Galina Shchepetnova).

At first glance, they have nothing in common. However, a closer look reveals one thing inevitably present in each of the characters — an ultimate desperation that dominates all other feelings and emotions. Though each of them is affected by it differently in his or her own way, it is desperation that keeps them together and determines their relations.

These are people who in normal circumstances would not even say hello to one another. But as a group, they try to unite their efforts in overcoming day-to-day problems. It is not important how each of them came to the "shelter" or where they will wind up afterwards. Neither the dramatist nor the stage directors are particularly concerned with revealing destinies, making conclusions or deriving a moral in the story. What interests them most is the atmosphere of the "shelter." Here, nobody is ever forbidden to be a sentimental dreamer; nobody is forced to wear masks to cover his true face or soul and everyone has the opportunity to satisfy his need to be useful to someone. After all, it was precisely the state of being "uncalled" that pushed all of them out of the big world and made them outsiders.

Simple human relationships, warmth and understanding turn out to be a salvation for each of them. Moreover, it provides them with the sole opportunity to be human, helping them avoid becoming embittered and withdrawn and giving them strength to remain unbowed in the face of disappointments.

After all, even in a world full of barbaric behavior one should strive to remain human. This simple truth, conveyed through every move on the stage, will probably make you to shed a tear or be seized by sentimentality and a desire to rush out and be kind to someone.

GOGOL THEATER
8a Kazakova Ul.
Metro: Kurskaya
Tel: 262-9214
The play is showing on September 9, 10, 16 and 17