After Sergio finishes writing his novel, he falls into a deep depression that it may never be published due to censorship in Soviet Russia. 

However, when a publisher steps in and offers to buy the novel, it is later sold for an adaptation for the stage. Little does Sergio know that although his story is being told, it may not end up being the one he wrote. 

Black Snow is a semi-autobiographical satirical novel written by Mikhail Bulgakov while living in Soviet Russia. Though the novel was written four years before his death in 1940, it was not published until 1965. It was adapted for the stage by Keith Reddin the 1993. 

Purdue University Fort Wayne is taking on this drama for this year’s Freshman-Sophomore Showcase in Studio Theatre, April 19-21. General admission tickets are just $5. 

Director drawn to story

I had the opportunity to talk to first-time director Austin Rausch, who has specialized in costume design, about the reasons behind choosing this play and the impact it has had on his students and peers. 

The assistant professor of theatre told me about his history with Black Snow and how when he read the novel in high school, he felt a sense of connection to it. 

“I first read this play as a teenager and was captivated by its comedy but also its blatant honesty,” his director’s note reads. “I found myself looking into a mirror. I then wondered, if I am seeing my reflection in this play, would others see themselves in it?

“Theater artists are all drawn to the art of storytelling. Whether or not we are telling someone else’s story, it eventually becomes our own, through design, directing, acting, assisting, and so forth. Adapted from a theatrical novel by the same name, written by Mikhail Bulgakov in 1930s Soviet Russia, this play hinges on the concept of artistic ownership and bureaucratic manipulation, the inner saboteur, and the endless search for meaning and community.

“Sergei Leontievich Maxudov, a proofreader and novelist, tries to navigate the harsh world of artistic criticism (in the play). The character is a representation of all creatives in some capacity and mirrors real artistic obstacles. It shows us that there are decisions to be made about our own creativity, who to entrust our creativity with, and what to avoid, though rarely avoidable. So, what do we do with it? Do we persevere despite fear, judgment, and manipulation? Or do we crumble under the pressure?” 

Why do we create?

We all have heard the term “starving artist,” and this story encapsulates the passion and hardships of being an artist. 

“Once you create something and give it to the world, is it ever truly yours again?” Rausch said. 

He chose this play not only for its storyline, but also because it is specifically meant for freshman and sophomore students. The play gives them an opportunity to get on stage and take chances within their acting careers. 

“It’s a combination of all the things I’ve learned in my life of theater,” Rausch said. “So, not only does it serve a personal fulfillment, but it’s a story that the students can connect to of being a struggling artist: ‘Is being an artist something worth going after?’ Its characters they can connect with.” 

Rausch loves theater philosophy: Why do we do what we do? Is it to make a difference, a change, a way to express yourself, or all of those? 

Timely story

With Maxudov’s story unlikely to pass censorship in Black Snow, Rausch finds this story is very timely in our political climate. 

For example, many believe the government is attempting to ban TikTok due to individuals reporting and sharing news that is not likely to be on your national news stations. Whether this is true or not, our society is censored on a daily basis. On small scales of businesses not allowing employees to share opinions all the way up to our government trying to control the news. It is a topic that is relatable all over the world, and in some other countries, much more serious and can lead to deathly consequences for speaking out against their governments. 

Black Snow is a play that has comedy and drama. It gives students the opportunity to get on stage and face their fears of being perfect. 

Rausch said this play opens their chances to make strong and interesting choices that they can portray on stage, but also able to use these choices to reflect inward on their own lives.

“Theater is therapy,” he said.