Describe the Night
by Rajiv Joseph

Name: Describe the Night
Brand: Rajiv Joseph
SKU: 9780822238058

Off-Broadway

Describe the Night Book Cover — Describe the Night Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins Present Day Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes

Awards & Recognition

Obie Award

Winner! 2018 Obie Award for Best New American Play

Synopsis

In 1920, the Russian writer Isaac Babel is a war correspondent with the Red Cavalry.

Seventy years later, a mysterious Stasi agent spies on a woman in Dresden and falls in love.

In 2010, an aircraft carrying most of the Polish government crashes in the Russian city of Smolensk.

Set in Russia and East Germany over the course of 90 years, this thrilling and epic play traces the stories of seven people connected by history, myth and conspiracy theories.

Press Reviews

"Dense and fascinating… A play about stories, beginning in historical fact and spinning outward.” – New York Magazine“A brilliant play… The play is its own vivid, perfectly paced patchwork of memory, lies and revelations."
— The Daily Beast

"Joseph weaves a compelling narrative from the yarn of bespoke reality… Describe the Night is much more than an engrossing tall tale, however: It heroically wrestles with the slippery nature of truth itself and unnervingly demonstrates why its alternatives are so seductive."
— TheaterMania

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Nikolai* Russian. Last name: Yezhov. A captain in the Russian Red Cavalry in 1920, when he is twenty-five years old. He is enormously self-assured, an accomplished military man. A violent man. In 1937 to 1940, he is the head of Stalin’s Secret Police which will become the KGB. In 1989, when he is 94, he is a living relic of Russian	male	37-19	Russian. Last name: Yezhov. A captain in the Russian Red Cavalry in 1920, when he is twenty-five years old. He is enormously self-assured, an accomplished military man. A violent man. In 1937 to 1940, he is the head of Stalin’s Secret Police which will become the KGB. In 1989, when he is 94, he is a living relic of Russian
Yevgenia* Russian, the wife of Nikolai Yezhov. In 1940, she is 36. Bright, beautiful, drawn to astrology and supernatural topics. Unhappy in her marriage but would never say so. In 1989, she is 86 years old. Mischievous with a humor that is rooted in pain and tragedy.	female	—	Russian, the wife of Nikolai Yezhov. In 1940, she is 36. Bright, beautiful, drawn to astrology and supernatural topics. Unhappy in her marriage but would never say so. In 1989, she is 86 years old. Mischievous with a humor that is rooted in pain and tragedy.
Vova* Russian, a KGB agent stationed in Dresden, East Germany in 1989, at which time he is 35 years old. In 2010, he is a politician of enormous stature. Deeply self-assured yet terrified of the world.	male	—	Russian, a KGB agent stationed in Dresden, East Germany in 1989, at which time he is 35 years old. In 2010, he is a politician of enormous stature. Deeply self-assured yet terrified of the world.
Urzula 21. Polish, and in 1989, an immigrant living in Dresden. The granddaughter of Yevgenia.	—	21	21. Polish, and in 1989, an immigrant living in Dresden. The granddaughter of Yevgenia.
Feliks Polish. Thin, a dreary disposition. An orphan. At 21 in 2010, he feels middle-aged.	male	—	Polish. Thin, a dreary disposition. An orphan. At 21 in 2010, he feels middle-aged.
Mariya Russian, 30s, a journalist for a state-run newspaper in 2010. Moscow born and bred. Strong and steady. * denotes actual historical figure. Author’s Note: Actors should not speak in any dialect.	—	30s	Russian, 30s, a journalist for a state-run newspaper in 2010. Moscow born and bred. Strong and steady. * denotes actual historical figure. Author’s Note: Actors should not speak in any dialect.
Isaac* Russian, Jewish. He is the writer Isaac Babel. In 1920, he is 25 years old, a quiet, shy young man with dreams of being a successful writer, but traumatized from the Polish-Russo war, where he is a wire service journalist – a job he took in order to experience something in life he could write about. In 1937 to 1940, he is a successful writer of fiction and films. He has robust appetites and is far more self-assured and not intimidated by anyone. He craves danger.	male	37-19	Russian, Jewish. He is the writer Isaac Babel. In 1920, he is 25 years old, a quiet, shy young man with dreams of being a successful writer, but traumatized from the Polish-Russo war, where he is a wire service journalist – a job he took in order to experience something in life he could write about. In 1937 to 1940, he is a successful writer of fiction and films. He has robust appetites and is far more self-assured and not intimidated by anyone. He craves danger.