This Chekhov masterpiece draws us into the world of the Prozorov family, a highly educated Moscow family, who are geographically transplanted eleven years before the action begins- when the father, a brigadier general, takes command of an artillery unit in a small, provincial town.
The play opens on the first anniversary of his death, with the three daughters and one son living in their inherited home but wishing they were back in the milieu of the Russian capital.
Olga, the eldest sister, is a teacher; Masha has married a local teacher who is a dullard, Kulygin; Irina, the youngest, has a position in the post office. Their brilliant multi-lingual brother Andrey, the family’s pride, hopes to resume his studies at Moscow University and attain an academic chair.
All four are highly educated, sensitive human beings and the play charts their fall from grace, their steady decline and despair, as they lose themselves and their souls in the new coarse, sordid world that they, quite unwillingly, have had to get very used to.
As in many Chekhov plays, these characters don’t end up mastering life…In the end, the toughness and reality of life gets the better of them.
The hallmark of Timothy Bennett’s present revival is the commitment and passion with which the cast take on their characters.
Elizabeth MacGregor as Olga, Lana Kershaw as Masha, and Dominique Nesbitt as Inna each give solid performances as Chekhov’s troubled sisters. As does Tom Massey as their highly strung, easily mocked brother Andrey who sees his academic ambitions turn to dust after he falls into an exasperating marriage that pressures him into reckless gambling.
Susan Farrell delivered a ‘cutting’ portrayal as Andrey’s selfish, shrewish, petulant and vindictive wife, Natasha.
Performances by Martin Searles as the too earnest Baron Tusenbach, James Moir as the ‘manic’ Dr Chebutykin, Robert Drew as the crotchety old servant, Ferapont, and Martin Bell as artillery commander, Vershinin, lacking in the steely resolve to break free from an unhappy marriage, also stood out.
Bennett’s creative team focus on recreating Chekhov’s turn of the century well with convincing attention to period detail in costume and set design.
Find the time to visit these three sisters and let them welcome you into their home. This Chekhov classic, in a translation by Brian Friel, is playing the Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, city until Saturday 14th November. Performance times are Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 4.30pm. Adults- $30, Concession and group price- $25. Bookings http://www.genesiantheatre.com.au or 1300237217.
