EastLine’s “A Very Expensive Poison” Is an Electrifying Theatrical Experience

EastLine Theatre’s Long Island premiere of Emmy-winning playwright Lucy Prebble’s “A Very Expensive Poison” at the BACCA Arts Center is nothing short of spectacular. The world premiere of this engrossing, enlightening, and entertaining two-act play took place in August 2019 at London’s Old Vic Theatre.

Based on a book by investigative journalist Luke Harding, this well-crafted drama explodes with mystery and espionage as it explores the 2006 real-life assassination of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy living in London. The play delves into Litvinenko’s intimate relationship with his wife, Marina, his fraught professional relationship with Russian and British government officials, and the efforts of the medical staff at a London hospital to determine the cause of his mysterious illness.

Under the astute creative direction of the talented Nicole Savin, “A Very Expensive Poison” kept the audience on the edge of their seats until the gut-wrenching ending. Savin says, “Some plays steal into your heart, others race. What begins as an explosive mystery becomes a farce, takes a left turn through puppetry, adds a sprinkle of vaudeville, and finishes with a gut punch of emotional honesty.”

This courageous and unconventional play blends dramatic spectacle with dark humor and political satire, creating an emotionally charged theatrical experience as it confronts the complex truths about the high cost of dissent, the destructive power of propaganda, and the harsh realities of living an authentic, moral existence in a world crippled by corruption.

The use of movable set pieces kept the action flowing seamlessly across many locales, including various apartments, a hospital, restaurants, streets in London and Moscow, and a nightclub. The creative use of projections, along with the actors breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the audience, heightened the sense of urgency and drama.

David Edward Keen, perfectly cast as the former Russian intelligence officer and whistleblower, brought dignity and strength to the role of the outspoken protagonist, Alexander Litvinenko. Elise Hansen was brilliant as his devoted, truth-seeking wife, Marina. Hansen is a nuanced actor, and her body language and facial expressions added depth to her characterization. The intense onstage chemistry between Keen and Hansen was one of the show’s strong points.

The entire ensemble delivered award-worthy performances, many of them doubling up to portray the multitude of larger-than-life supporting characters who comprise the cast. A big round of applause goes out to Boyu Chen, Tom Ciorciari, Michael Devereaux, Carl DiModugno, Taylor Dunn, Steven Garry, John McGowan, Allison Paul, Debbie Starker, and Candace Wilkerson.

Special mention goes out to DiModugno for his spot-on depiction of Boris Berezovsky, the flamboyant Russian oligarch living in exile, and to Ciorciari for his satirical portrayal of Vladimir Putin, which was both darkly comedic and deeply unsettling to witness.

Other standout performers were McGowan as Andrei Luguvoi and Chen as Dimitri Kovtun, the two bumbling idiots involved in Litvinenko’s poisoning.

Remi Watts’ inventive lighting, Wendy Grimm and Lyn Adler’s artistic costume design, Deanna Ibrahim’s well-timed choreography, and David Edward Keen’s original music greatly contributed to this production's overall success.

EastLine’s polished-to-perfection production of “A Very Expensive Poison” leaves audiences with much to think and talk about long after they exit the theatre. Performances run through January 4, 2026, at the BACCA Arts Center in Lindenhurst. Tickets are $25 and available at eastline.ludus.com. More information is available at eastlinetheatre.org or by calling 516-749-5047.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She holds a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can't Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her full-length Music Drama, “Beethoven, The Man, The Myth, The Music,” is published by Next Stage Press. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.