The first night of the play took place just on the eve of the Great Patriotic War, on June 21, 1941. This was the last pre-war performance of the theatre. Aram Khachaturyan wrote his legendary waltz for the Vakhtangov performance and devoted it to Alla Kazanskaya, the performer of Nina’s part.

The War stopped the show. During one of the air attacks the building of the Vakhtangov Theatre was severely damaged by a bomb and the performer of Zvedich’s part Vasiliy Kuza died, he was on duty in the theatre that tragic night. “Masquerade” was shown just several times.