Teach Me How to Die at Hudson Guild Theater

Teach Me How to Die... Belive it or not?In the play Teach Me How to Die main action takes place at a master class in Suicide Notes Writing. Believe it or not, that such a Master Class exists in real life Four classes, four meetings with Professor of Linguistics and Philology - Scott Mirrormord. During the first class six anonymous participants come up with name-definitions aka nicknames for themselves: Philosopher, Loser, Poet, Hunter, Violinist, Accountant. They are very different from one another: in character, temperament, life circumstances, however they have one thing in common they have made their decision to quit this absurd world that they live in At that, the decision to commit suicide and attend the master class in Suicide Notes Writing can be perceived as normal (way of life). The playwright Lisa Monde sees that as the main conflict of the play. Only one participant of the master class Loser with the help of his psychotherapist, reaches the conclusion that the main thing is living in the absurd, not to consider it normal. He gives up on his plan to commit suicide. Belive it or not, he is the one who chooses such a nickname for himself by accident During the first class all participants speak about the chosen methods of suicide. Professor criticizes their lack of creativity and persuades them to consider more of a romantic approachBelive it or not, that one can teach how to die During the second master class, students find answers to the question: for whose sake they are committing such an act. Thus, Violinist has intends to commit suicide for his evil-wishers, his goal is - to make them repent the way they had treated him and to make them realize how terribly wrong they were to underestimate his talent. Accountant, wants to prove to his ex-girlfriend that he can not live without her and therefore wants to die. Poet, with her passing wants to awaken the Mankind, that has completely lost the sense of Beauty. And Loser plans to deliver himself from any further humiliation of this miserable life that hes living. Belive it or not, the Hunter chose such an addressee to his action, that no one could even think of. During the last two classes relationship between the Poet and the Philosopher, representing quite opposite points of view when it comes to life, worsens. Philosopher insists on the senselessness of life for anyone, who has not much to offer when it comes to making a substantial contribution to the development of human civilization, whereas the Poet, on the contrary, considers life to be filled with meanings, that must be searched for and discovered. Belive it or not, that one can find the meaning of life The show is over. Surprisingly, we acknowledge that we have come to believe that what was happening on stage was real. You dont believe it? Oh, but you must. Since we live in a world where everything is possible and anything can happen. The proof is in this Play. Excellent work of actors (Gary Simon as Professor Mirrormord, Ben Rademacher as Hunter, Yannik Encarnacao as Loser, Steve Carlsen as Accountant, Lisa Monde as Poet, Gary Comorau as Philosopher, Caitlin LaBarge as Police Officer), outstanding directing and sound design (by Lisa Monde), beautiful lighting design (by Danitra Faithe) all together give the spectator the feeling of participation in this dangerous journey, where the price of victory is human life. Belive it or not, one can teach how to live The play Teach Me How to Die premiered at the Hudson Guild Theater as part of the New York Theater Festival Winterfest 2019. Taking into account the magnitude of the subject, high quality of production, Id like to believe that this play has yet to find its gross audience. And perhaps, for some it will become a salvation. Because that is how it works. Belive itReview by Karla Duke, New York, February 2019