seagull by checkhov review

What: “The Seagull”, a comedy in four acts. By Anton Chekov

When: Thursday Nov6th - Thursday Nov 13th, 8 pm.

Where: Sharp Theater in the Berrie Center for the Performing and Visual Arts

“The Seagull” begins in the Russian countryside, at the renowned actress, Madame Arkadnia Treplev’s, (played by Darragh Cimis) brothers estate. Her only son Konstantine, (Paul Pena) is putting on an outdoor performance of his new play, which actually turns out to be just a voice, with one single character which is played by Nina, (Jacquelina DeMarco). Konstantine is desperately in love with his actress Nina. The play begins with Nina reciting a long monologue about the universe, a man’s place on earth, and a universal soul. Only minutes into the play, Arkadnia, who is attention starved, interrupts several times by talking to her

friends. She does not try to understand or appreciate what Konstantine is attempting to do. Konstantine stops the play extremely upset. Later on, Nina becomes infatuated with Trigorin, (Lee Sable), an amazing writer, who is Arkadnia’s current lover. When Arkadnia, and Trigor

Guevara portrays these protagonists in a way that we understand and ask what their next step and words will be. She humanized the play in a way that allows the audience to take what they will from the examples that may or may not reflect their own lives and those of their loved ones.

in move back to the city Moscow, Nina follows yearning to become a “made” actress. It is there in the city where she has an affair with Trigorin. Masha, (Gina Musumeci), the daughter of the family steward, is in love with Konstantine, who could care less for her, so she marries Medvedyenko, (Thomas Balne), the local schoolmaster. Two years later, the whole cast reunites because of the sickness of Sorin, (Kevin Pertusiello). We learn that Nina has a child but it had gotten sick and died. Konstantine has been working on his writing, successfully, for the past two years and still believes that he and Nina can start their lives over together again. Nina rejects this idea. In the end of the play, Konstantine goes out and shoots himself.

As Guevara said in her directors notes, “ Since this play may be near and dear to your heart as well…(to quote from act three)…’If there’s been anything ... not quite right … please forgive it!”

Guevara’s setting is an inactive countryside backdrop. In any other play people would find this uninviting and boring, but in her case it does just the opposite. With nothing to do besides tend the farm, the characters explore their lives, and more importantly their dreams.

The weather sets a better tone for what is happening throughout the play. When Konstantine is surprised with a visit from Nina in Act Four when she comes back, it is windy, and stormy. It is a signal, or foreshadowing for a major change in the plot.

Although Shamraev, played by Thomas Anthony Rondinaro), was not really a major part of the play, was one of my favorites. As the father to Masha, and husband to Paulina, he also acts as the Sorin’s estate manager all year long when they are away. He adores Arkadnia’s fame and fortune in a rather comical way onstage, and sarcastically listens to her brag about herself and the details of her life in the theatre. He is comically argumentative about the horses and running the farm, which lightens the tone to some confrontational parts of the play.

Some topics in this essay:
Arkadina Nina, Nina Act, Kevin Pertusiello, Gina Musumeci, Konstantine Chekhov’s, Anthony Rondinaro, DeMarco Konstantine, Seagull” Nina, Russia Ramapo, Konstantine Nina, “the seagull”, nina seagull, gina musumeci, throughout act, konstantine nina, affair trigorin, details life, backdrop play, major themes, play konstantine,