The Illusion of Happiness

An ensemble of outstanding actors—charming Olga Lomonosova, magnificent Tatyana Lyutaeva, inimitable Ilya Shakunov, energetic Agrippina Steklova, and talented Varvara Komarova—will present the psychological tragicomedy The Illusion of Happiness.

This vivid event of the spring theater season is presented in two acts.

What happens when a person has everything they could ever dream of? It would seem that everything needed for happiness is there, but at a certain point, a successful, healthy, and loved person encounters a destructive trap. Sometimes it all begins with one small thought…

That thought triggers a chain reaction that can no longer be stopped—like a tectonic shift that is barely noticeable at first, but then becomes impossible to halt.

The play is based on the work of the famous French-Belgian author Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, titled The Tectonics of Feelings.

At the center of the story is Diana, a successful resident of Paris. Her life seems perfect: a brilliant career, beautiful looks, and Richard—an ideal partner. But it is precisely this perfection that becomes the breaking point. An impulsive decision or thoughtless conversation can destroy the established order.

Misunderstandings, intrigues, emotional manipulation, absurd moments, incorrect diagnoses, and secret agreements emerge in the story, leading to an unpredictable finale.

Olga Lomonosova, who plays Diana, is a renowned theater and film actress who has performed more than 60 roles. Her Diana combines cool confidence with inner anxiety. She is both strong and vulnerable. Olga masterfully finds a balance between psychological depth and tragicomic lightness.

Ilya Shakунov, a celebrated actor with more than 50 roles, plays Richard. Richard is a proud, reserved man who prefers silence to words. His character brings a distinctive tragicomic quality to the performance.

Tatyana Lyutaeva, who plays Diana’s mother, is a renowned actress and director who has performed more than 150 roles. Her character is pragmatic and wise, bringing humor and sharpness to the story.

The two other female characters, played by the vivid actresses Agrippina Steklova and Varvara Komarova, add irony and provocation, making the drama more layered and multifaceted.

The Illusion of Happiness is not only a story about love, but also about how emotions can control people, how pride can destroy lives, and how people sometimes lose one another while trying to prove they are right—doing so both comically and painfully at the same time.

This performance offers a chance to laugh as well as a reason to reflect.