Leskov’s famous story, staged by Tatyana Ufimtseva, takes an unexpected form. The very end of the work, when Katerina and Sergei end up in prison, is taken as the basis for the dramatization. The well-known plot, supplemented by small details, is presented through “memory scenes” when investigator Vochnev tries to understand the case of murders in the house of landowner Izmailov. Thus, all plot-shaping scenes are presented as if they were in the past of the main character. A story with a well-known plot receives a second life, prepared for the stage, devoid of what is characteristic of prose, but is difficult to perceive in the theater - unnecessary descriptions, lack of action, and so on. And it’s always interesting to look at an old story from a slightly different angle.