FringeNYC Previews

Hidden Fees*

Produced by Studio Six Theater Company

Author: Victoria Nikiforova

Hidden Fees* is a comedy about sex, love, money and real estate in present-day Moscow, Russia. You meet many colorful characters; a computer salesman, upwardly mobile prostitutes, a smoky back room Kremlin insider and even a Higher Power.

While Hidden Fees* takes place in Moscow, the roadblocks and crises faced by the characters will be very familiar to Americans. The pursuit of happiness is complicated all around the world. The schemes and personalities may be different in Russia but the struggle and disbelief when dreams come crashing down is universal. The company, Studio Six, has lived and studied together in Moscow and this ensemble has a strong connection to the culture of this play. The translation was done as a company and worked on throughout the rehearsal process. This production is a chance to meet the new generation of Russians.

By staging the first English translation of Hidden Fees*, Studio Six of the Moscow Art Theater hopes to present a provocative and intimate view into a society largely stereotyped and misunderstood. Showing the universal struggles in today's world.

Raphael Schklowsky, director