The wild and wacky Boof Theater can chase away those winter blues.

All endings are happy ones at the Boof

Anyone overwhelmed with the angst and "toska" of the harsh northern winter -- and the oft-tragic classic operas and plays -- can find relief at the Boof Theater, where all the plays have happy endings.

The first Boof Theater was founded in 1863. It was popular in its time as only comedies were shown there.

Unfortunately, its popularity was its ultimate downfall: disgruntled actors from the Alexandrinsky Drama Theater, unhappy with the Boof's success, set it on fire. The theater was destroyed.

The Boof reopened at the beginning of the 20th century, but not for long. After the October Revolution, the Soviets, apparently under the impression that comedy was anti-revolutionary, closed the theater down.

At the beginning of the 1980s, a professor at the Theater Academy, Isaak Shtockbant, decided to revive the Boof Theater and one of his acting classes became the first troupe at the theater.

The theater has several different stages, including the Mirror Hall and the Boof-Plus cabaret hall.

Most of the plays are not well-known but are pleasant: "Blues" is the story of an artist who falls in love with his servant, while "Mandragora" is about a medicine which could cure everyone who is sick.

In addition, the theater offers special programs, such as the Cabaret for Children. Kids get free ice-cream and juice, and between scenes there is a disco. (SPP)



© 1996 St Petersburg Press