Oleg Menshikov is one of the most unsolved actors in both cinema and theater. A trail of rumors and opinions accompanies each of his new work. There are many more people who have heard about his theatrical works than those who were lucky enough to see them. Some people adore him and others do not forgive the slightest mistakes. Pyotr Shepotinnik was lucky enough to be admitted to the creative laboratory of actor and director Menshikov and freely observe how film roles and stage productions are created — the performances of Griboyedov's "Woe from Wit" and Gogol's "Players", which had a noisy fame.