What people have to say
AUDIENCE'S COMMENTS
"Absorbing, Dizzying, Great acting, Masterful, Riveting
"See it, if you want to see an actor give everything he's got in 70 minutes. He really delivers! I can't imagine this piece being performed better. Even if you're mildly curious, this is a wise bet. There was much to discuss on the way home, and I felt an emotional tightness in my chest for at least an hour. This piece, and mostly performance, were really gripping." - Jacqueline Parker
"Funny, Dizzying, Enchanting, Masterful, Moving. Even as the protagonist descends into madness, there is something relatable and uplifting about him. Why did I leave smiling? Superb acting!" - Teresa
"Intelligent, Masterful, Profound. See it if You want to see an incredible actor - Ilia Volok perform a role that is believable. He transforms himself on stage." - Mic San
"Funny, Absorbing, Clever, Dizzying. Ilia Volok's acting is very superb!" - Melissa U
"Absorbing, edgy,passionate, riveting, must see. See it if Visceral, passionate, absorbing theater excites you and you wish to take a riveting journey into the soul of a character. This is a fascinating study in passion and madness, performed by Ilya Volok with such a depth of concentration that the audience loses itself in his powerful journey. With humor, wistfulness, fear, anger and even terror, he leads us physically and emotionally through this powerfully disturbing, yet human journey. The physicality and total commitment of the actor's performance is extraordinary! The director and actor have co-adapted Gogol's story so successfully that we are pulled into this desperate effort to find reason and logic within madness, somewhat relevant to our current political life. GO, students of theater and fans of theater. You will be moved and it will linger with you long after you leave the theater!" - Maggie
"Absorbing, Ambitious, Dizzying, Great acting, Must see! See it if you are enthralled with extraordinary acting. This one man show by Ilia Volok was breathtaking to watch!" - Pam
"Great acting, Resonant! See it if you’re a fan of great acting, and relish the opportunity to sit up-close and personal to enjoy the performance." - Nancy NYC
"Intense, Insane, Courageous!" - Gale
"Dizzying, Great acting, Intense, Frenetic, Enthralling. The set is minimal, the atmosphere excellent and the performance magnificent. Recommended for Ilia Volok's performance." - Scott Finkelstein
"The acting in this one man show was outstanding." - Beth
"Great acting, Intelligent, Great writing. A cry for humanity, issued in the flesh, is something only theater can do." - Jim
"Great acting, Intense, Entertaining, Frenetic. See it, if You're looking for a masterful performance of a classic play!" - Liam
"Timely! Poprishchin, as performed by Ilia Volok, is a victim of a dehumanizing society,and a Soul-Crushing job. We feel his isolation and pain. Ilia Volok is an extraordinary performer.We experience his character's inner turmoil, his delusions, and his hopelessness.Life conspired against him, and we witness his descent into insanity..." - Zorayda
"Absorbing, Great acting, Profound, Great writing, Great staging. Tour-de-force performance that captivates and spellbounds, with equal parts sadness, whimsy, and madness." - Claudia
"Masterful. See it if you want a master class in acting and how to do a riveting one person show." - Laura
"Great acting, Thought-provoking." - Wojciech K
"Great acting, Intense, Well-directed. Set on a spare stage with only a stool, a ladder, a pair of boots, some bedsheets, and a scrap of paper, this production uses the space very well. The short story feels timely---the growing bitterness and delusion of this character, who feels cheated out of a higher rank and the love of a beautiful, aristocratic woman, mirrors the thinking of the type of person who becomes a shooter in the U.S." - Janet Ruth Young
"Great acting, Romantic, Great writing, Entertaining Volok was very good & convincing. Made me realize that all I've ever wanted was for someone to rhapsodize about me like this crazy man does for his love, Sofie. So romantic". - Katherine
"This man is incredible. Such a gem of an actor. He should be working all the time." - Evgeny
"You want to be moved by an extremely talented actor doing his interpretation of a classic Russian play." - Craig
Dear friends! Acclaimed actor Ilia Volok is extending his superb one-man show Diary of a Madman, based on the famous short story by Nikolai Gogol and winner of the LA Weekly Theater Award for Best Solo Performance! The acting and directing is excellent. We had the pleasure of seeing it and I hope you will get a chance to as well! - Di Zhu
There is nothing you can do tonight that is more worthwhile, if you like art and great execution, then see this play. - Dikran Utidjian
I saw the most wonderful show last night, DIARY OF A MADMAN with Ilia Volok at the American Theatre of Actors in NY. This is a theatrical event one rarely gets the chance to see; a riveting, electric, haunting performance. If you love the theatre, run to see this.
I beseech my actor/theatre friends and acquaintances to run to see Ilia Volok in Gogol's DIARY OF A MADMAN at the American Theatre of Actors, John Cullum Theatre. It is a towering achievement and a staggering display of talent.
I promise you it is impossible to exaggerate its value. This is one for the ages. - James Crafford
"Absorbing, Dizzying, Great acting, Masterful, Riveting
"See it, if you want to see an actor give everything he's got in 70 minutes. He really delivers! I can't imagine this piece being performed better. Even if you're mildly curious, this is a wise bet. There was much to discuss on the way home, and I felt an emotional tightness in my chest for at least an hour. This piece, and mostly performance, were really gripping." - Jacqueline Parker
"Funny, Dizzying, Enchanting, Masterful, Moving. Even as the protagonist descends into madness, there is something relatable and uplifting about him. Why did I leave smiling? Superb acting!" - Teresa
"Intelligent, Masterful, Profound. See it if You want to see an incredible actor - Ilia Volok perform a role that is believable. He transforms himself on stage." - Mic San
"Funny, Absorbing, Clever, Dizzying. Ilia Volok's acting is very superb!" - Melissa U
"Absorbing, edgy,passionate, riveting, must see. See it if Visceral, passionate, absorbing theater excites you and you wish to take a riveting journey into the soul of a character. This is a fascinating study in passion and madness, performed by Ilya Volok with such a depth of concentration that the audience loses itself in his powerful journey. With humor, wistfulness, fear, anger and even terror, he leads us physically and emotionally through this powerfully disturbing, yet human journey. The physicality and total commitment of the actor's performance is extraordinary! The director and actor have co-adapted Gogol's story so successfully that we are pulled into this desperate effort to find reason and logic within madness, somewhat relevant to our current political life. GO, students of theater and fans of theater. You will be moved and it will linger with you long after you leave the theater!" - Maggie
"Absorbing, Ambitious, Dizzying, Great acting, Must see! See it if you are enthralled with extraordinary acting. This one man show by Ilia Volok was breathtaking to watch!" - Pam
"Great acting, Resonant! See it if you’re a fan of great acting, and relish the opportunity to sit up-close and personal to enjoy the performance." - Nancy NYC
"Intense, Insane, Courageous!" - Gale
"Dizzying, Great acting, Intense, Frenetic, Enthralling. The set is minimal, the atmosphere excellent and the performance magnificent. Recommended for Ilia Volok's performance." - Scott Finkelstein
"The acting in this one man show was outstanding." - Beth
"Great acting, Intelligent, Great writing. A cry for humanity, issued in the flesh, is something only theater can do." - Jim
"Great acting, Intense, Entertaining, Frenetic. See it, if You're looking for a masterful performance of a classic play!" - Liam
"Timely! Poprishchin, as performed by Ilia Volok, is a victim of a dehumanizing society,and a Soul-Crushing job. We feel his isolation and pain. Ilia Volok is an extraordinary performer.We experience his character's inner turmoil, his delusions, and his hopelessness.Life conspired against him, and we witness his descent into insanity..." - Zorayda
"Absorbing, Great acting, Profound, Great writing, Great staging. Tour-de-force performance that captivates and spellbounds, with equal parts sadness, whimsy, and madness." - Claudia
"Masterful. See it if you want a master class in acting and how to do a riveting one person show." - Laura
"Great acting, Thought-provoking." - Wojciech K
"Great acting, Intense, Well-directed. Set on a spare stage with only a stool, a ladder, a pair of boots, some bedsheets, and a scrap of paper, this production uses the space very well. The short story feels timely---the growing bitterness and delusion of this character, who feels cheated out of a higher rank and the love of a beautiful, aristocratic woman, mirrors the thinking of the type of person who becomes a shooter in the U.S." - Janet Ruth Young
"Great acting, Romantic, Great writing, Entertaining Volok was very good & convincing. Made me realize that all I've ever wanted was for someone to rhapsodize about me like this crazy man does for his love, Sofie. So romantic". - Katherine
"This man is incredible. Such a gem of an actor. He should be working all the time." - Evgeny
"You want to be moved by an extremely talented actor doing his interpretation of a classic Russian play." - Craig
Dear friends! Acclaimed actor Ilia Volok is extending his superb one-man show Diary of a Madman, based on the famous short story by Nikolai Gogol and winner of the LA Weekly Theater Award for Best Solo Performance! The acting and directing is excellent. We had the pleasure of seeing it and I hope you will get a chance to as well! - Di Zhu
There is nothing you can do tonight that is more worthwhile, if you like art and great execution, then see this play. - Dikran Utidjian
I saw the most wonderful show last night, DIARY OF A MADMAN with Ilia Volok at the American Theatre of Actors in NY. This is a theatrical event one rarely gets the chance to see; a riveting, electric, haunting performance. If you love the theatre, run to see this.
I beseech my actor/theatre friends and acquaintances to run to see Ilia Volok in Gogol's DIARY OF A MADMAN at the American Theatre of Actors, John Cullum Theatre. It is a towering achievement and a staggering display of talent.
I promise you it is impossible to exaggerate its value. This is one for the ages. - James Crafford
PRESS REVIEWS
"...A triumph of acting for Ilia Volok! ....A performance of beauty and intensity."
by Holli Harms.
thefrontrowcenter.com/2017/10/diary-of-a-madman/
"...Fervent and heartbreaking ingenuity of Ilia Volok’s performance... "
by Joanna Connolly.
www.localtheatreny.com/single-post/2017/10/31/
"...Performed with consummate skill and precision by Ilia Volok...tightrope act that comes off beautifully."
by Dorian Palumbo.
dramaqueensreviews.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/dorian-palumbo-reviews-ilia-volok-in-diary-of-a-madman/
"...Keeps the audience captivated and entertained throughout. It takes a great actor to bring that type of character to life and Mr. Volok deserves to be commended for his success in doing that."
byAnthony J. Piccione.
www.onstageblog.com/reviews/2017/10/29/review-diary-of-a-madman-at-the-american-theatre-of-actors?platform=hootsuite
"Volok’s commitment to his character is unimpeachable. Every glance, movement, sound, word, laugh and cry of his severely troubled tale is rendered with palpable pain as well as the innocence of truth."
By Charles E. Gerber.
newyork.splashmags.com/index.php/2017/11/08/diary-of-a-madman-review-its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-rap/#gsc.tab=0
"Ilia Volok definitely commands the stage, his performance is heroic..."
by Darryl Reilly, Critic for Theater Scene
"...the thrill of watching Volok. He achieves the character [...] Volok is remarkable at playing nuts. He tumbles between multiple layers of reality and unreality, captivating all the while with his confusion [...] he dug deeper into our hearts."
by Robert Gottlieb.
outerstage.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%85-that-means-success-in-russian/
"...the brilliant painting that is Volok’s performance [...] keeps the audience on the edges of their seats [...]
The raw emotion displayed by Volok [...] In addition to being a powerful and entertaining piece of art,
Diary of a Madman is a profound commentary on mental illness, homelessness, and empathy."
by Natalie Lifson.
dramaqueensreviews.wordpress.com/2018/02/07/3330/
"Volok’s performance was amazing!"
by Nicholas Tzoumas.
newyorkevents.co/man-madness/
"...A triumph of acting for Ilia Volok! ....A performance of beauty and intensity."
by Holli Harms.
thefrontrowcenter.com/2017/10/diary-of-a-madman/
"...Fervent and heartbreaking ingenuity of Ilia Volok’s performance... "
by Joanna Connolly.
www.localtheatreny.com/single-post/2017/10/31/
"...Performed with consummate skill and precision by Ilia Volok...tightrope act that comes off beautifully."
by Dorian Palumbo.
dramaqueensreviews.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/dorian-palumbo-reviews-ilia-volok-in-diary-of-a-madman/
"...Keeps the audience captivated and entertained throughout. It takes a great actor to bring that type of character to life and Mr. Volok deserves to be commended for his success in doing that."
byAnthony J. Piccione.
www.onstageblog.com/reviews/2017/10/29/review-diary-of-a-madman-at-the-american-theatre-of-actors?platform=hootsuite
"Volok’s commitment to his character is unimpeachable. Every glance, movement, sound, word, laugh and cry of his severely troubled tale is rendered with palpable pain as well as the innocence of truth."
By Charles E. Gerber.
newyork.splashmags.com/index.php/2017/11/08/diary-of-a-madman-review-its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-rap/#gsc.tab=0
"Ilia Volok definitely commands the stage, his performance is heroic..."
by Darryl Reilly, Critic for Theater Scene
"...the thrill of watching Volok. He achieves the character [...] Volok is remarkable at playing nuts. He tumbles between multiple layers of reality and unreality, captivating all the while with his confusion [...] he dug deeper into our hearts."
by Robert Gottlieb.
outerstage.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%85-that-means-success-in-russian/
"...the brilliant painting that is Volok’s performance [...] keeps the audience on the edges of their seats [...]
The raw emotion displayed by Volok [...] In addition to being a powerful and entertaining piece of art,
Diary of a Madman is a profound commentary on mental illness, homelessness, and empathy."
by Natalie Lifson.
dramaqueensreviews.wordpress.com/2018/02/07/3330/
"Volok’s performance was amazing!"
by Nicholas Tzoumas.
newyorkevents.co/man-madness/