Director Bruce Katzman‘s staging of this classic play offers comedy and intrigue, framed by an impressive naturalistic scenic design.
The Seagull is a play where Anton Chekhov uses spoken and unspoken language to convey the intricate emotional layers of the characters living by the lake. The words and the silences combine to create tension and express the complicated relationships of Treplev (Parker Sack) with the people around him. The beauty of the lake casts a spell on the people who live around it, bringing both romanticism and tragedy.
In Katzman’s production, the characters are surrounded by an eye-catching scenic design that represents the lake and the woods of Chekhov’s magical place. The blue and green hues used by Carlo Maghirang capture the vividness of nature and the intensity of the feelings experienced by the characters.
Katzman honors the comedic aspect of the play. There is plenty of drama, but the production highlights the humorous characteristics of Chekov’s writing. The excellent performance of Carlos Carrasco as Shamrayev, is an example of Katzman’s commitment to present Chekov’s intention to write a comedy rather than a drama. The result is a balanced production that adds dynamism to the characters and the situations portrayed on stage.
The music and sound effects by Clare Marie Nemanich also contribute to the attraction of this staging. Lukas Jann as Yakov and Hannah May Howard as Maid make great use of the sound effects playing their respective instruments, adding an air of mysticism to the scene.
The acting of the leading actors leaves room for improvement. It feels as if Cece Kelly as Nina and Parker Sack as Treplev only scratch the surface. Although they offer good performances, they don’t reach the depths of their characters. Both Nina and Treplev are complex characters with layers of ambitions and traumas that could be explored more intensely in this production to broaden the dramatic effect of the story. Both Kelly and Sack seem to have the skills to achieve greater heights. The supporting actors with more experience leveled up the play. Sasha Alexander as Arkadina and James Tupper as Trigorin delivered solid performances, playing their characters convincingly and adding the necessary tension for an effective striking impact to move the story forward.
Overall, Katzman presents a visually exuberant production of a play that shows Chekov’s keen observation of human nature and the volatility of humans when pushed to the limits. As a traveling doctor through the Russian territory, Chekov saw first hand the sublimity and misery of the human condition. His experiences are ingrained in his writing. Katzman captures the nuances of the human behavior witnessed by Chekov and infuses an interesting combination of drama and humor to express the verbal and silent symbols present in the story.
The Seagull
Odyssey Theatre
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Jan 18 – Feb 9 2025
Thursdays @ 8 p.m. / Fridays @ 8 p.m. / Saturdays @ 8 p.m. / Sundays @ 2 p.m.
Tickets: odysseytheatre.com/tickets/
Written by Anton Chekhov. Directed by Bruce Katzman. Produced by James Tupper and Carolyn Crotty.
Cast: Sasha Alexander as Arkadina. James Tupper as Trigorin. Cece Kelly as Nina. Parker Sack as Treplev. Carlos Carrasco as Shamrayev. Carolyn Crotty as Polina. Brianna Bryan as Masha. Will Dixon as Dorn. Joe Hulser as Sorin. Matthew Hartley as Medvedenko. Lukas Jann as Yakov. Hannah May Howard as Maid.
Creative team: Nicole Ohara Production Manager. John Levey Additional Casting. Roella Dellosa Stage Manager. Carlo Maghirang Scenic Designer. W. Alejandro Melendez Lighting Designer. Eva Zapata Costume Designer. Clare Marie Nemanich Sound Designer. Dana Schwartz Props Designer.
