Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
It is always exciting to see an iconic play full of love triangles, fabulous monologues, gorgeous sets, and interesting costumes. And the symbolism - a dead seagull, shot by someone who one day came along by chance, saw it and just for fun, destroyed it. There was simply nothing else for him to do.
The story is set at Pyotr Sorin's estate, on a country lake. The feel of late 19th Century life in Russia is beautifully set by our legendary playwright Anton Chekhov, 'successful writer of short stories', who was only 25 years old when he wrote this complex, masterfully written play where every character is full of powerful acting moments, that most of the actors dream of portraying. Misery, despair, passion, disappointment, broken hearts, shame, humiliation, excitement and love are among the spectrum of emotions these characters experience.
Arkadina, Irina Nikolayevna, played so well by beautiful Sasha Alexander, a famous actor who is at the same time a mother to an eighteen-year-old son Treplev, Konstantin Gavrilovich (Kostya), an inspiring young writer, sensitive and shy played nobly by Parker Sack. In her role as a mother, she is mostly cruel, insensitive, sarcastic, not caring, but we do witness a tender moment between the son and the mother. Her motherly instincts take over and we are pleased to see that she does care and somewhere deep down really loves her son. She does know how to love, seduce, and fight for her love when there is a need. When young gorgeous girl Nina, Mikhailovna Zarechnay, an inspiring actress played so successfully by Cece Kelly, that her son Kostya loves madly, falls in love with Trigorin, Boris Alexeyevich, a famous writer, greatly played by James Tupper, on which he reacts with amuzement, Arkadina who is in love with Trigorin, fights for him with all her beauty and pose. All the relationships and life situations can be easily related to our lives today and the attraction to fame and famous people has always been - a thing.
At the beginning we see Nina falling in love, then by the end of the play, after being abandoned and ridiculed for two years with her unsuccessful life with Trigorin, she returns to the lake and delivers a powerful and truthful monologue what she went through and how she feels about herself.
The rest of the acclaimed cast are Sorin (Joe Hulser), Masha (Brianna Bryan), Shamrayev (Carlos Carrasco), Polina (Carolyn Crotty), Dr. Dorn (will Dixon), Medvedenko (Matthew Hartley), Yakov (Lucas Jann), and a Maid (Hannah May Howard).
It is a heavy play, well explored and deeply expressed by everyone; a timeless story with themes that resonate powerfully, even in the 21st Century.'
The director/producer Bruce Katzman knows how to bring out all the emotional conflicts within each actor and give us the taste of Chekhov's masterpiece. The costumes by Eva Zapata are simple, modern and effective. The scenic design by Carlo Maghirang is enchanting and peaceful, the huge poster of the lake created by Maghirang covers most of the stage. Producers Bruce Katzman, James Tupper and Carolyn Crotty with the Production Manager Nicole Ohara gave the audience a flawless showpiece.
'When setting out to write his play, Chekhov wrote to his publisher, "I'm doing a terrible violence to the conventions of the stage. It's a comedy ... four acts, a landscape (a view onto a lake), a great deal of conversation about literature, very little action, and ten tons of love." In another note, he said, "I've begun it forte and ended it pianissimo - contrary to all the canons of dramatic art."
The RUN ofThe Seagull, visiting production at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. is Thurs-Sat at 8; Sun at 2pm and ends on February 9, 2025. Total Run Time is 2:15 min.
There is a 10 min. intermission.
For tickets call all 310.477.2055 ext. 2 or visit Odyssey Theatre or 310.938-9081; nicoleoharamedia@gmail.com
General Admission $40; Students with ID $20 (+$3 for credit card). PARKING: $5 in the on-site parking lot and street parking available.