John Misto Madame Rubinstein

John Misto

Madame Rubinstein

Dramedy in two acts

Duration – 2 h 10 min

Premiere – 9 May 2026

Performed in Lithuanian

Creative team:

Director – Raimundas Banionis

Stage Designer – Sergėjus Bocullo

Costume Designer – Daiva Petrulytė

Composer – Faustas Latėnas

Stage Director’s Assistant –  Gelena Ivaškevič

Translated into Lithuanian by Sigita Stanaitytė

Literary adaptation of the play – Gytis Norvilas

Production Manager – Aleksandra Šalkinė

Cast:

Helena Rubinstein – Inga Maškarina

Elizabeth Arden – Edita Gončarova / Aleksandra Metalnikova

Patrick O’Higgins – Aleksandr Kanajev / Valentinas Krulikovskis

 Madame Rubinstein, based on the comedy by Australian playwright John Misto, reveals the backstage of the American beauty industry of the mid-20th century. The protagonist is a historical figure, a lioness of the cosmetics business Helena Rubinstein (1872–1965). Although Rubinstein was a real personality, Misto didn’t write a biographical play – he only relied on the facts of her life. Chaja (later Helena) Rubinstein, born to a Jewish family from Krakow, became a millionaire in New York, world-famous for her advertising style, shrewdness, hard work and thrift. She lived a fascinating life and died at an advanced age. The setting of the play is very specific – 1954–1965, the last decade of the heroine’s life.

The comedy opens with an intriguing episode: the elderly Madame Rubinstein unexpectedly meets Patrick, an Irishman who later becomes her secretary and closest friend. The depiction of the heroine’s sunset years is very expressive, organic and convincing. The production also aims to unveil the fates of two women – business rivals Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden. These were women who sacrificed everything for their careers: families, relationships with their children. They lived, worked and navigated in a business world without room for comfort or support. To stay on top, they had to be very inventive, resourceful and strong, ready to disregard everyone else.