HISTORY, POWER,
AND WHO GETS TO DECIDE

Rajiv Joseph’s epic drama offers
no comfort—only urgent questions

For those seeking entertainment as a refuge from the nightmare of our current political moment, Describe the Night offers no such sanctuary. Spanning ninety years and shifting between 1920, 1937, 1940, 1989, and 2010, playwright Rajiv Joseph traverses Poland, Russia, and East Germany to construct a collage of Russian society as sharp and critical as The Master and Margarita. Through a series of intimate two- and three-person scenes involving seven characters, Joseph interrogates what makes a truth “true” and a lie “false,” and whether either holds power beyond what we grant it.

The play opens with Isaac—an analogue for writer Isaac Babel (Stephen Mercantel)—attempting to “describe the night.” He struggles. His writing is interrupted by Nikolai (Tobie Minor), an officer in the Russian Red Cavalry and future leader of Stalin’s secret police. Having killed a civilian earlier that day, Nikolai fears that Isaac, a war journalist, will report the incident. After Isaac quells Nikolai’s paranoia, he challenges the officer to describe the night as well, asking whether two simultaneous descriptions of the same moment can differ in truth. While Nikolai has no immediate answer, the scenes that follow depict a chilling, century-long obsession with controlling whose truth prevails.

Central to this struggle is Isaac’s journal—a conspicuous red notebook that serves as the drama’s engine. Its pages contain Isaac’s personal truth, but they also symbolize a dangerous narrative subversive to the Russian regime. When Nikolai possesses the notebook, he literally and figuratively controls the truth, explaining Isaac’s desperation to protect it.

The journal reappears in every scene, often under mysterious circumstances. Rental car salesman Felix (Devin Finn) passes it to journalist Mariya (Lara Toner). Later, Vova—a young Vladimir Putin (Brennan Patrick)—interrogates Urzula (Alyssa Hurtado) after discovering the notebook in her luggage as she attempts to defect to the West. This moment chillingly mirrors the earlier confrontation between Isaac and Nikolai, with Vova wielding the notebook as a weapon against Urzula’s freedom. The repetition across generations reinforces the play’s central warning.

Despite cuts, the production runs two-and-a-half hours, including two ten-minute intermissions, and at times struggles to maintain momentum. Director Ben Wolfe manages the complex narrative with clarity, highlighting key plot points, but some performances buckle under the weight of portraying such epic figures. Mercantel occasionally struggles to chart Isaac’s evolution from young writer to hardened political activist, at times appearing lost in overly specific physical choices. While Minor, Hurtado, and Toner give capable performances, they rarely elevate the onstage tension.

The standouts are Brennan Patrick and Andrea Osborne. Patrick, who possesses an “all-American” look, uses his physical stature and resonant baritone to command every scene. His Vova is a man defined by the need for control, portrayed through slow, precise, and determined movements. This calculated approach makes the rare moments when he relinquishes that control—such as slurping a bowl of soup served by Yevgenia—all the more affecting. Osborne is a perfect counterbalance: She is vibrant, and yet her eyes remain sad and enigmatic.

Austin Playhouse has shown a willingness to tackle challenging material, and Describe the Night is no exception. Supported by effective, minimalist designs from Buffy Manners (costumes), Mark Novick (lighting), Mike Toner (scenic), and Robert S. Fisher (sound), the production establishes a stark atmosphere of necessity. the production establishes a stark atmosphere of necessity. At times, the humanity of the drama is transfixing: Isaac and Yevgenia’s tragic affair; Urzula’s fight for freedom, and the unexpected camaraderie between a journalist and a salesman. These moments capture a raw struggle for truth that feels undeniably pertinent. First presented in 2014 at an NYU graduate program, Joseph’s play continues to depict a world that demands our attention.

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photos by Steve Rogers Photography

Describe the Night
Austin Playhouse, 405 West 22nd St
2 hours and 30 minutes, including two 10-minute intermissions
ends on February 22, 2026
for tickets ($24–$42; Pick-Your-Price Thursdays;
half-price student tickets), visit Austin Playhouse

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