Slap!

A 16 year-old David Burliuk, searching for ancient artifacts in his homeland Ukraine, stumbles into a cave he believes was where Hercules spent a night with a Scythian Viper Goddess who bore him three sons who would become the founders of Ukraine. Meanwhile, back in the cave, David is slapped by the very same Viper Goddess and an ancient Ukrainian epic poet, who plays the Ukrainian national instrument, the bandura. Burliuk, who is destined to be known as the father of Russian Futurism (we'll talk about decolonization later), is guided by these two on a Futurist performance tour through Siberia, Japan and New York City, ending up a block away from the East Village Basement, where Slap! is performed. Slap!, of course, is a musical based on historical facts.

Yes, this play is a response to the war. Yes, this play acknowledges the decolonization necessary for Ukrainians to reclaim their own culture. Yes, this play is dedicated to Serhiy Zhadan and our other Ukrainian friends and in solidarity with Ukraine (it concludes in a bomb shelter under the opera in Kharkiv). Yes, this play is performed in the same space where Ellen Stewart started La MaMa in 1961. And yes, you can get a free cup of borscht at Veselka's with your ticket stub!

Presented by Yara Arts Group.