It’s hard to believe that an evening focusing on suicide could be a laugh-fest, but “The Suicide” by Nikolai Erdman, is just that.  A comedy once banned by Stalin, Nikolai Erdman’s witty satire is the opening show for The Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts 2012/13 season at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre.

Directed by Gyllian Raby with set design by Nigel Scott, costume design by Roberta Doylend, and lighting by Ken Garrett, this mainstage production showcases the talents of students in Brock University’s Department of Dramatic Arts undergraduate program, including production and design students and the performers: Marcus Schwan, Kaitlin Race, Cassandra van Wyck, Derek Ewert, Justine Benteau, Rachel Romanowski, Brianne Lidstone, James Lowe, Nikki Morrison, Brent Cairns, Ioanna al Khayed, Karyn Lorence, Evan Mulrooney, Kanthan Annalingan, Sean Rintoul and Evan Bawtinheimer.

It’s the story of Semyon, an ordinary man who, arguing with his wife about a sausage, accuses her of wishing him dead. This sets in motion a disastrous chain of misunderstandings in which Moscow’s shadiest characters each try to recruit him to kill himself for their own cause. Semyon survives their Lottery of Death only by means of a tuba, a drinking error, and a love for life so effervescent that he rebels against duty. This free adaptation created especially for the Department of Dramatic Arts was written by Gyllian Raby and Anna MacAlpine to emphasize Erdman’s love of slapstick, zany fantasy, and paradox.

The first show is November 8 at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre at Brock University.

Performances run: Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 9 at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m., and will be held at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Brock University. Tickets are $15 Adults; $12 Seniors/Students; $5 eyeGo high school ticket program; and Special Group rates are available from the Centre for the Arts Box Office: 905.688.5550 x 3257 or online at: http://arts.brocku.ca/  For more information about this production and the Department of Dramatic Arts visit: http://www.brocku.ca/humanities/departments-and-centres/dramatic-arts/events-at-dart