Diary of a Madman (Diario de um Louco), an adaptation of the story by Nikolai Gogol, the Russian writer whose plays rank among the great masterpieces of 19th century Russian realist literature, opens March 5, 1998 at The Cultural Artistic Theatre in Sao Paulo.

The production, which attracted more than 5,000 people to The Gavea House in Rio de Janeiro in 1997, received the 1997 Shell Award for Best Actor in Play (Diogo Vilela).

Diary is the story of Alexenty Ivanovichi, a civil servant and a solitary young man who falls in love with his boss´s daughter. Their disturbing romance propels him into a world of madness. He spends his remaining days in a mental hospital.

Director Marcus Alvisi will show once again his impeccable work, the life trajectory of a Russian bureaucrat; from his romantic dreams and loneliness to a schizophrenic state of mind.

Diary of a Madman again stars the award-winning Brazilian actor Diogo Vilela as Alexenty Ivanovichi. This work also marks the third monologue of Vilela´s career and his fourth work with the director Alvisi. Tickets cost R$25,00-R$30,00. Performances are from Thursdays to Saturdays - 9PM; Sundays - 8PM. Information at The Cultural Artistic Theatre in Sao Paulo - Phone number 011 258 3616.

--By Nertutila Achao

Brazil Correspondent