The Seagull

The Seagull

Woolgathers

Green Door Productions

Pensby High School

15/9/22

The Seagull by Anton Chekov is a slice of life drama set in the Russian countryside at the end of the 19th century. The cast of characters is dissatisfied with their lives. Some desire love. Some desire success. Some desire artistic genius. No one, however, ever seems to attain happiness.

The curtain opens on an outdoor tranquil countryside, the backdrop indicating a large lake. Yakov (Stephen Wooder) an estate employee is completing a marquee stage left, in readiness for a performance of Konstantin’s play to family and invited friends. There is a dining table and chairs stage right. Director Adam Michael Comer went for a one set production, using the space well, depicting the plays various scenarios.

The estate is owned by Peter Nikolayevich Sorin (Marc Smith), a retired civil servant of the Russian Army and brother to Irina Arkadina (Helena Hill) a famous actress at the end of her career. Arkadina has a young lover Trigorin a successful author of revered fiction who is also visiting. The estate is managed by a stubborn, ornery man named Shamrayev (Adam Stubbs) and his wife Polina (Amy Jane) who still holds a torch for Dorn the family doctor.

The opening lines for The Seagull in my mind set the tone for the entire play:

The play begins with Masha (Aleczandra Wharton), the estate manager’s daughter, strolling along with an impoverished school teacher named Seymon Medvedenko (Paul Murray)

Medvedenko: Why is it you always wear black?

Masha: I’m in mourning for my life. I’m unhappy.

 

Medvedenko loves her. However, Masha cannot return his affection. She loves Sorin’s nephew, the brooding playwright Konstantin (Jace Clark).

Konstantin is oblivious to Masha because he is madly in love his young and lively neighbour Nina, but when he professes his love for her, she does not return his adoration, thus feeding his deep depressive suicidal feelings. Nina (Fiona Williams) arrives, ready to perform in Konstantin’s new play she longs to be a famous actress telling Konstantin she feels like a ‘seagull’. Nina latterly becomes infatuated with the celebrated writer and young lover of Arkadina, Boris Trigorin.

 (Have you picked up on the theme of unrequited love?)

 

The Seagull” was a famous disaster when it was first performed in 1896. The audience booed, one actress froze in fright, and critics savaged it. It was only when Konstantin Stanislavsky directed it for the Moscow Art Theatre in 1898 that the play was hailed as a masterpiece.

The play is about the futility of life in large part, it’s about how life may seem pretty vacant, even when you have attained a spurious success. The writer Trigorin best reveals the latter home truth in a frank admission to Nina, whom he falls in love with, despite his attachment to Arkadina. This was a touching engagement between these characters, well done to Fiona and Mathew.

Nina and Trigorin have an affair. Nina has Trigorin's baby, it dies, and he leaves her in Moscow returns to Arkadina who he continued to be involved with during his relationship with Nina.

The Seagulls main events happen off stage. Nina and Trigorin's affair, the shooting of the seagull, Masha and Medvedenko's wedding, etc. all occur between acts.

Act two is two years on Konstantin is a full time writer. Arkadina hosting once again at her brothers estate, brags about the reception of a recent performance of hers and how nice the dress was that she wore. 

Trigorin, Shamrayev, and Arkadina discuss Konstantin’s abstract writing and bad reviews. Trigorin and Arkadina do not express any sympathy for him. Dorn disagrees and says he believes he is on to something.

Konstantin is left alone in his study. He looks over his writing and criticizes himself out loud for being a cliché. He compares his writing to Trigorin's with envy and despair. He hears a knock on the window. It is Nina. She confesses to Konstantin that she still profoundly loves Trigorin. She says she is "the Seagull" and compares herself to a homeless wanderer in a Turgenev story.  She remembers the innocence and hope she and he felt the summer they put on their play. She recites lines from the play. Nina hugs Konstantin and then runs out of the door.

 This scene is very challenging for a young actress; Fiona does very well, a fine compelling performance throughout the play.. Good support from Jave Clark well done.

Arkadina and the rest of the household come back from dinner. A shot goes off in a loud noise offstage. Dorn tells Trigorin privately that he needs to get Arkadina out of the house quickly because Konstantin has shot himself. Arkadina does not hear Dorn's sad news before the play's end.

The commitment from the actors was to be applauded some good individual performances here. I feel I must mention Aleczandra Wharton who is excellent as lovesick, vodka-swilling Masha, all unravelling hair and unruly emotions. Great performance well done

Attendance on opening night always has its issues, lighting needed to be slicker; sadly it needed a larger audience, maybe relook at promotion. I would like to see the production further into the run.

Thank you for a very entertaining evening I really enjoyed it. I hope to see you all again soon.

Joanne Rymer

NODA District 4

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