Russian Roulette at the Kremlin by Jean-Pierre Martinez
Russian Roulette at the Kremlin is a contemporary comedy by Jean-Pierre Martinez for 2 characters.
With the West suspecting that Russia is about to invade Poldavia, the President of France pays a visit to the Russian President in an attempt to broker a compromise… while hoping that such a diplomatic triumph might also give them the edge over their rivals in the race for re-election.
But this tense face-off between the representative of a more or less decadent democracy and the leader of a not exactly enlightened dictatorship soon takes an unexpected turn, with a highly uncertain outcome…
Original title in French : Roulette russe au Kremlin
Translation by the author
Cast : 2 characters
In this version, both the Russian and French Presidents are men, but the roles can just as easily be played by women simply by changing their first names, without making any changes to the dialogue.
Download the playscript for free
Any performance requires prior authorization and the payment of performance rights.
Play written in May 2022
Spanish translation by the author : Ruleta rusa en el Kremlin
Portuguese translation by the author : Roleta russa no Kremlin
Number of lines per character:
Boris: 188 lines
Manuel: 187 lines
A high-stakes political comedy for two
Russian Roulette at the Kremlin brings the French and Russian presidents face to face at a moment when an international crisis threatens to spiral out of control. One has come to negotiate while already thinking about his re-election; the other plays with power dynamics, threats and bluff. Very quickly, the diplomatic meeting turns into a duel.
The play offers two powerful roles, which can be performed by two men or two women. Much of the theatrical pleasure comes from the constant clash between the characters: provocations, reversals, false confidences, blackmail and bluffs continually shift the balance of power. Humour is ever-present, often dark, and arises from the contrast between the seriousness of the issues at stake — war, power and nuclear threat — and the almost absurd way in which the two leaders deal with them.
For the audience, the play works both as a political comedy and as a thriller. Right up to the end, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell what is real, what is a lie and what is manipulation. Russian roulette becomes the image of a form of power that gambles with lives that are not its own. With a simple set and two performers on stage almost throughout, *Russian Roulette at the Kremlin* offers a fast-paced, tense and highly topical show, capable of making audiences laugh while leaving a genuine sense of unease hanging in the air.
Cara o Cruz, la cancion
English version
French version
Spanish version
Lyrics and music: Jean-Pierre Martinez
These songs may be used, without obligation, as part of a stage production, upon simple request to the author and without any additional fees.
The audio file is available upon request, subject to prior authorization from the author for the use of the play’s text.