Izobražaja Žertvu (Playing the Victim, Simulando la vittima) dei fratelli Presnjakovy: la paura e la “Pepsi Generation” nel teatro russo contemporaneo

The plays by Presnyakov Brothers develop problems of the present-day social crisis in Russia. The piece Изображая жертву (Playing the Victim) investigates the destiny of the “Pepsi generation”, or the generation of the 90s, grown up in the decade of emotional and moral degradation. The core idea of fear is enhanced by Hamletian reminiscences; the protagonist, trying to overcome his personal fear of death plays a fake victim in forensic reconstructions. Mitigating his own scares, he faces exaggerated fear and gradually his perception of reality is substituted by his acting, so finally he trespasses the law and commits a homicide himself.