Press

"The Mutt is a step away from traditional linear storytelling, delivering nuanced pictures of strained relationships, internally as well as with others, and the struggle to find where one's true self resides. If you're a lover of Dostoevsky, it's a must-see, as this appreciation and love of his work is not often dramatized."

"Do you remember the feeling when you close a Dostoevsky novel? Here—it's even better! On the one hand, you respect yourself for going all the way through without faltering. On the other—it's a catharsis, with a sense of deep relief."

"The play is wonderfully crafted, a fine example of minimalism. A sprawling novel is distilled down to six characters, with one storyline at the core and the action tightly wound around it. A simple yet clear set, a small hall, video where modern Russia looks like in Dostoevsky's time. Overall, an excellent performance—I liked it."

"A poetic rendition of the famous novel by F.M. Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazovs. New generation of theatre artists keeping Dostoevsky alive in NYC! Bravi tutti!"

"An absence of falsehood, of lies, of mockery of feelings, of posturing—that crude theatrics that only provokes a reflexive itch—an absence of betrayal of us, the audience—that alone is already a Miracle! To Love, to Pray, to Live, to Breathe, to Believe—so simple, and at the same time, so difficult... Here, in this tender and honest space of the performance, everything essential for life is present."

"I experienced incredible joy! Ilyusha intertwined with Liza, Zhuchka/Grushenka, Kolya, the father, the choreography, the music, the metaphors in the props — everything was captivating! I applauded with tears in my eyes."

"With minimal décor and symbolism in every gesture, The Mutt blends experimental staging with unvarnished performances, creating a work where nothing feels accidental. Ancient Slavonic chants, fractured storytelling, and a distinctive movement language make the production feel both innovative and alive — less a play than an immersive encounter with Dostoevsky's central question: what it means to be human."

"The Mutt is a kind of mutt itself — a mixed-breed of dance, theater, performance art, and music, poetically integrated by directors Anoushka Nesterova and Elena Che. The strong cast gives depth to the characters, with Zhuchka nearly always front and center, caught between fantasy and reality, life and death, being and nothingness."

"Albeit an adaptation of one small chapter, just over a dozen pages from the two-volume novel, this production captures, re-imagines, and presents the full breadth and depth of Dostoevsky's epic including its key theme—relationships between God, the devil, and humans."