Illusionen

"We thought the earth was flat, that the sun revolved around us and that God had created us in his image.
In our youth, we believed that time was infinite and love eternal.
Then in old age we realized that life was just a moment, and love... love really is eternal, beautiful and boundless.
But then came this insane Christopher Columbus, the cruel Galileo, the insensitive Darwin and finally this impudent Vyrypaev." (Laszló Bagossy)

Ivan Vyrypaev, one of the most outstanding figures in contemporary Russian drama, explores the depths of interpersonal relationships with touching honesty and subtle humor in his play "Illusions". The play tells the story of four characters - two married couples - revealing the hidden layers of feelings, bonds and love, while confronting the audience with the fragile border between illusion and reality.

The plot is both lyrical and ironic: the characters look back on their past and confess deeply hidden secrets, blurring the line between truth and fantasy. What is true love? What does it mean to be faithful? How are people able to love each other - and themselves - in the face of inevitable transience? These questions guide the play's train of thought. Vyrypaev's masterful language is at once philosophical and sensual, touching and at times hilarious. The play offers no easy answers; it challenges the audience to rethink their own lives.