Stalin's Master Class at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

Stalin's Master Class

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd Los Angeles

British playwright David Pownall imagines a chilling encounter in which composers Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich are subjected to the rants and bullying of Josef Stalin and Andrei Zhdanov, Stalin's self-important cultural commissar. Stalin and Zhdanov, reveal anti-democratic, formalist musical tendencies, alien to the Soviet people and their artistic tastes. Music that could make a whole population sick! Should one start writing music in the style ordered by the Master, or should one continue to do as one pleases, and risk death? It is January 1948, somewhere in the Kremlin. There is a piano, vodka of course, and peanuts...

Thru - May 26, 2024

Fri, May 3: 8:00pm

Sat, May 4: 8:00pm

Sun, May 5: 2:00pm

Fri, May 10: 8:00pm

Sat, May 11: 8:00pm

Sun, May 12: 2:00pm

Wed, May 15: 8:00pm

Fri, May 17: 8:00pm

Sat, May 18: 8:00pm

Sun, May 19: 2:00pm

Fri, May 24: 8:00pm

Sat, May 25: 8:00pm

Sun, May 26: 2:00pm

Show Type: Comedy/Drama

Box Office: 310-477-2055

www.odysseytheatre.com

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble Seating Charts

Nearby Restaurants

Stalin's Master Class Reviews

Average Rating based on 4 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

LA Splash - Highly Recommended

"...STALIN'S MASTER CLASS is definitely a thought-provoking look at the juxtaposition of life, art, and politics. It is also an intriguing what-if in a country where art and politics don't seem to mix. The blend of history, musical genius, and strong-man power also proves to be entertaining and - at times - even bizarre and downright nuts."

Read Full Review

- Elaine Mura

Stage Raw - Highly Recommended

"...Playwright David Pownall balances contrasting visions of Stalin - a man prone to poetry and profanity, deep loyalty and even deeper mistrust, kindness and cruelty - in his darkly comedic examination of the responsibility of the individual to the needs of the collective. Despite some bumps in director Ron Sossi's production of Pownell's fictional tale, we come away with a more nuanced version of a "dictator" whose love for his nation and its common people may have led to his most desperate actions."

Read Full Review

- Martίn Hernandez

Larchmont Buzz - Recommended

"...Stalin's Master Class dates back to 1986, and illustrates how the pacing of theatrical works has changed. Today's new plays are more likely to be 80-100 minutes without intermission; Stalin runs more than two hours, including a 15-minute intermission. Removing redundancies could trim the length and make for a tighter, more engaging experience. More live music would also serve to reinforce the play's message, and take advantage of the extraordinary artistry of pianist Nisha Sujatha Arunasalam, who plays behind the scenes for the musicians."

Read Full Review

- Laura Foti Cohen

Broadway World - Highly Recommended

"...Stalin's Master Class is a music-filled drama at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles through May 26. Beautifully executed and exquisitely crafted, this historical play by British playwright David Pownall was last performed at the Odyssey in the 1980s. Stalin's Master Class is a rare and intellectually delicious pleasure, not to be missed."

Read Full Review

- Amanda Callas

Stalin's Master Class at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble