Show Trial
Written by Laura Zlatos | Directed by Tom Costello
Presented at The Tank | 312 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018
October 15, 2026 – November 8, 2026
Show Trial was truly the definition of a hilarious, entertaining show, and the experience started before I even sat down. When I walked in, I was greeted by a friendly hostess at the box office, and once I picked up my tickets, I was gifted a pair of decorative mustaches that I could take home as a souvenir. It was a really great and creative touch, and one that made even more sense once the show began. After the box office, I went upstairs to a nice reception area where I got to wait before the show started, with drinks and people mingling.
What I noticed right away was how well the production used what it had. Show Trial wasn’t a show with a huge budget, but I found that everything in terms of the utilization of the space went fabulously well. Before the show, I got to sit down and speak with some of the audience members and hear their thoughts. From what I understand, the show had been done before with very little budget, but this time The Tank was supporting them with a much more creative budget. That made me even more excited to see what they would do with access to more funds.
But there is more to Show Trial than a creative use of space.
Drawn from the real transcripts of the 1950 trial of Milada Horáková, the play follows the Czechoslovak dissident (Jessica Frey) as she stands trial for treason before a regime that had already written the verdict. Around her is a courtroom full of characters putting on a show, led by judicial chairman Karel Trudák (Brian Bock) and lead prosecutor Josef Urválek (Alex J. Gould). Prosecutor Ludmila Brožová (Jessie Cannizzaro) joins the case alongside Juraj Vieska (Tom Mezger) and Antonín Havelka (Justin Ahdoot). Radio commentator Martin Martinek (Alex Mandell) narrates the proceedings like a sports broadcast, and hanging over all of it is Stalin himself (Ema Zivkovic).
I love how there were so many historical references, but they were twisted in such a funny way. One of my favorite parts was how Stalin was portrayed in a very, very funny way, as a weak person who came out in a dress with a big mustache (which is when those mustaches from the box office really clicked for me). There was a constant theme of people dying for the most ridiculous reasons: you take a breath of fresh air and you get shot for no reason. In one scene, the prosecutors started introducing themselves and there was a seat left empty. When asked why the seat was empty, one of the prosecutors explained that he had killed the person for no reason at all. It was a joke at how the Stalin regime would kill people for absolutely no reason.
That is what struck me most. The main theme was a heavy topic. During that time, it was very difficult, and a lot of people lost their lives. A play could communicate that history in a serious manner, but this play didn’t do that. It expressed those serious matters in a joking manner, and it makes you see it for what it is: not necessarily a joke, but something that was ridiculous. Laura Zlatos’s writing and Tom Costello’s direction use humor to highlight just how ridiculous the regime was.
The actors were incredible at telling the history of what it was like living under the dictatorship while also incorporating tons of jokes into the scenes. Massive props to them, because there was no intermission, and they were in full gear, full throttle, acting for an hour and 40 minutes straight, which is not something that’s easy to do. They never skipped a beat. They were always on point with their acting and on point with their jokes. There was even a moment where they did a T-shirt toss, throwing shirts into the crowd during the performance, which I thought was a really nice way to interact with the audience.
After the amazing performance, there was a reception where I got to speak with some of the actors as well as the writer, Laura Zlatos. Light refreshments were served, and a photographer walked around taking photos. It was such an amazing experience.
Overall, Show Trial is a play you must see if you’re looking to laugh your pants off while also getting a brief history lesson on the Stalin regime. Some might even say it’s better than going to a comedy club, because the jokes were just so on point. I found myself struggling to stay quiet during the performance, because when I thought about some of the jokes and moments, I had to stop myself from bursting out laughing. That’s how funny some of the jokes were.
If you’re looking for a fun night out with friends, or a comedy club to go to, I’d highly recommend Show Trial. It is an amazing experience where you get to laugh and socialize.
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Nickson Frederick.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on October 20, 2026. All rights reserved.
