Mum Puppettheatre is proud to present The Master and Margarita, based on one of the most beloved novels of the 20th century. Written by Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita is directed by Adrienne Mackey, who adapted the play from the translation by Diana Burgin and Katherine Tiernan O'Connor. The performance features Robert DaPonte and Robert Smythe, Mum's founding Artistic Director at Mum. This show marks Smythe's return to the stage as a performer for the first time in 3 years. The Master and Margarita opens on February 13 and runs through February 23, 2008.

The Master and Margarita tells three fully realized stories -- an amazing love story, a compellingly poignant tragedy, and a comedy - which all come together seamlessly. Featuring the devil himself, an artist and his beloved, and Jesus and Pontius Pilate, the play is an emotional tour de force, providing the sort of visceral experience for which today's audiences are hungry.

"Bulgakov's rich novel was made for the stage-- it begs to be read out loud," explained Adrienne Mackey, director. "What attracts me to this story are the rich themes of good and evil, and the powerful human need to believe in something bigger than oneself. The story is adapted with a Western audience in mind, and so I chose not dwell on the specifics of early 20th century life in Soviet society depicted in the novel, but rather focused on the rich emotional expression that is at the story's core."

"The Master and Margarita is replete with the imagery of light and dark as metaphor for good and evil," said Lisa Shelby, Mum Puppettheatre's managing director. "The story asks the intriguing question that is critical for our time today: how far are we willing to go to remove any trace of the dark? Are we willing to remove any trace of shadow and shades of grey so that we're left with only brilliant light?"

The puppets designed by Martina Plag are integral to the evocative and humorous storytelling. "Puppetry is natural in a story with so many metaphors," noted Mackey. "When puppetry is used to tell a story, the audience is able to suspend disbelief and experience the story on a gut level." Some of the characters are portrayed by humans, and the live actors in The Master and Margarita are always visible. As with all of Mum's best work, audience members will quickly adjust to the fact that some characters are indeed portrayed by objects.

Adrienne Mackey created and directed The Ballad of Joe Hill at Eastern State Penitentiary, Echo (Tribe of Fools) 2007 Philadelphia Fringe Festival and Recitatif, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival 2007. Her work has also been produced at the Berkshire Fringe Festival. Mackey was awarded the 2006-2007 Philadelphia Community Education Center's New Edge Residency in Theater and was named an Independence Foundation Fellow for 2008.

For more information visit www.mumpuppet.org.