Authors: Oleg and Vladimir Presnyakov
Director: Mart Koldits
Artist: Iir Hermeliin
Translated by: Martin Algus
Cast: Priit Võigemast, Aleksander Eelmaa, Epp Eespäev, Allan Noormets, Rain Simmul, Andres Raag, Mart Toome, Piret Kalda, Kalju Orro, Indrek Ojari, Andero Ermel, Marje Metsur, Ene Järvis, Helene Vannari
Playing the Victim is a witty and ironic reflection of society analysing one of the most primal human feelings - fear. The protagonist Valya is a young man with higher education who works with the militia playing the victim during the reconstructions of crimes. Besides work his main activity is finding ways to escape from the unpleasant things in his life such as the sudden death of his father, his mother's relationship with a new man, and a disappointed lover. In a way Valya is a Hamlet-like character who notices the unfairness and superficiality of life and suffers from it but still cannot bring himself to do anything to improve the situation - at least until the moment when imagination and reality get totally mixed up.
This play by the Presnyakov brothers has been successfully performed in Russia as well as other countries in Europe. A film has also been made based on the play.