Letuchaia Mysh

Letuchaia Mysh’

 

(The Bat), a Russian theater of miniature genres. It grew out of the satirical skits staged at kapustniki (Lenten fund-raising performances) of the Moscow Art Theater.

Letuchaia Mysh’ opened Feb. 29, 1908, and was organized by N. L. Tarasov and N. F. Baliev, the theater’s permanent director and master of ceremonies. Its repertoire included parodies, skits, and divertissements. In time, the programs tended toward aestheticism and overrefinement. Soon after Baliev moved abroad with part of the troupe in 1920 (they appeared in Paris and New York throughout the 1920’s), Letuchaia Mysh’ disbanded.