Three Sisters

This was my first foray into a Chekhov play and, as I was told, he is a bit like Marmite, you love it or hate it.

Apparently there are several versions in English of Three Sisters but Director Kirrie Wratton chose the version by Sarah Ruhl, which contains the melancholy, the hopes and boredom of the Prozorov sisters, Olga, Masha and Irina deftly played, together with a marvellous cast, one of the largest I have seen with TTC.

The setting is the comfortable home of the Prozorov’s in a small garrison town far from Moscow at the end of the nineteenth century. We meet Olga (Fiona Young) the oldest sister, a teacher at the local school. Masha (Bridget Collins) trapped in an unhappy marriage to Kulygin (Kris Robertson). Irina (Louise Knapp), who dreams of opulence and their brother, Andrei (Mike Clarke), who gambles and marries Natasha (Helen Cheales), a controlling personality, particularly with the household staff. With visiting army officers, all with their own problems and personalities, the sisters have their company to pass the time.

Throughout the four acts, each character tries desperately to garner some happiness out of their day-to-day existence and meaning to their lives but they long to return to Moscow. There is a lot of crying in this play, mostly by the men! This is because it is a deeply emotional play but not too depressing, showing the strength and defiance of the sisters, tied down by the conventions of Russian Society

The whole cast, resplendent in their turn of the century costumes, with sets to match, offer performance gems, which makes for a polished production.

Do I like Marmite? Yes I do!

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