Directed by Nikita Kobolev based on the play by Valery Semyonovsky, written in 1999 based on the novel by Fyodor Sologub "The Little Demon." The novel, published in the early 20th century, caused an unprecedented stir in serious prose. The figure of the mad gymnasium teacher Peredonov became a symbol of his time, and even the term "peredonovshchina" emerged. Peredonov embodied traits of classic heroes of Russian prose, from Pechorin to Bashmachkin, and grotesquely reflected them in himself, like in a warped mirror. This literature teacher frequently appeals to literature, quoting classics with and without reason, justifying his unsightly actions with them. At the same time, he bears no responsibility and blames those around him for his sins. Director Nikita Kobolev in his play explores how the Russian literary canon operates today. Does it save, protect, or is it merely a subject of manipulation?