Mystery-Bouffe

Mystery-Bouffe (Russian: Мистерия-Буфф; Misteriya-Buff) is a socialist dramatic play written by Vladimir Mayakovsky in 1918/1921.

Mayakovsky stated in a preface to the 1921 edition that "in the future, all persons performing, presenting, reading or publishing Mystery-Bouffe should change the content, making it contemporary, immediate, up-to-the-minute.

The play coexists with topical facts of the political moment and poetic and philosophical digressions.

The play was written for the anniversary of the 1917 revolution, and was accepted by the Central Bureau to be part of the festivities.

This original version was directed and produced by Vsevolod Meyerhold, and the art was done by Kazimir Malevich.

V.V.Mayakovsky. Costume art for the roles of the Seven Pairs of the Clean
V.V.Mayakovsky. Costume art for the roles of the Seven Pairs of the Unclean