Kanata Theatre kicks off the New Year with The Seagull
by Anton Chekhov.
Why perform a play by a dead Russian who breathed his last more than a
century ago?
In his short 44 years of life (1860 to 1904) Chekhov became one of the most
important figures in world literature. The grandson of a serf, the son of a
failed grocer, the young Chekhov worked his way through medical school and
supported his siblings and parents from the profit of his pen.
Although he practiced medicine throughout his life, his main income came
always from the torrent of short stories and plays he wrote right up until
his death. Chekhov was notoriously poor at the business side of his medical
practice. He needed the revenue from his writing to subsidize many services
performed without fee for the less fortunate. The short stories have
remained the standard for short story writers ever since. They and the plays
have given us an invaluable picture of the life of ordinary Russians in the
dying years of the Tsarist regime.
Anton Chekhov gave the world more than 600 short stories, ten one act
farces, and seven full length plays of which the last four rank with the
world’s greatest works for stage. The Seagull, the first of these
four, changed forever the way we look at theatre. Tennessee Williams once
referred to The Seagull as “the greatest modern play.” Chekhov broke
from the melodramatic conventions of the 19th century to give us plays of
mood and feeling, without heroes or villains, some would say without plot,
although plot is never far from the surface.
The Seagull is concerned with the meaning of love and the meaning of
art. In the play’s chain of “hopeless” attachments Chekhov shows us
something quite different from romantic love. And in the characters at the
centre of the play he shows us how serious actors and writers can differ in
their approach to their art.
Chekhov saw The Seagull as a “comedy”, a characterization some have
found difficult to accept, possibly because his deft touch has often been
buried beneath ponderous translations. Kanata Theatre will be performing a
new translation of The Seagull by Tom Stoppard. As well as being one
of the foremost English playwrights, Stoppard is a skilled adapter of the
plays of central and eastern Europe. His text, consciously designed for the
actor, has a natural feel that allows Chekhov’s genius to shine through.
Chekhov the physician was unable to cure the tuberculosis that claimed his
life at the age of 44 just as his skill as a playwright came to full flower.
Kanata Theatre’s production of The Seagull is its first of a Chekhov
play. The company is sparing no effort. Dozens of people have been working
for months on all aspects of the show. Ian Carlisle designed and supervised
the construction of the sets. Eufron Williams and Mary Holmes are in charge
of costumes. Paul Gardner is the lighting designer and Martin Weeden
designed the sound. The production managers are Julie Clayton and Tatiana
Naumov , and Anne Marie Smith is stage manager. Each of these “department
heads” is assisted by teams of individuals too numerous to mention.
The Seagull directed by Jim Holmes, runs in the Ron Maslin Playhouse,
1 Ron Maslin Way, Kanata, Tuesday to Saturday February 5 to 16. There are no
performances Sundays and Mondays. The Playhouse is fully accessible and
there is ample free parking. Curtain is at 8 pm sharp. Tickets are $15. The
box office number is 831 4435. You may obtain more information at
www.kanatatheatre.com