The three sisters
Fri, 26 Feb 2010, 08:51 amGordon the Optom1 post in thread
The three sisters
Fri, 26 Feb 2010, 08:51 am‘The Three Sisters’, the popular masterpiece by playwright Anton Chekhov, is an honest gripping study of family relationships, immediately before the Russian Revolution. Showing at the Hayman Theatre, Building 102, Curtin University of Technology, Kent Street, Bentley at 8.00 pm nightly until Saturday 6th March.
Masha (Verity Softly) is sitting depressed, she has a very loving husband, Fyodor (Andrew Thom) but who totally lacks any excitement or passion. One of her sisters, Irina (Michelle Snedden) tinkles a gentle refrain on the piano, she too is desperate to be loved – could the Baron - Lieutenant (Patrick Cullen) be the man for her? The third sister, Olga (Emma Wilson) recalls, along with an old family friend (their mother’s lover?), the doctor (Andrew Clark), the happier days as she reflects on the death of her father exactly a year ago.
The sisters have a brother, Andrey (Jordan Nix) a gambling waster, with high ambitions to be mayor of the city. His wife Natasha (Louise Cocks), a manipulative, scheming ‘animal’ manages to rub up the whole household the wrong way, even wanting to dismiss the old nurse (Ruhama Geiger) after forty years service, and throw her out to the elements.
On their way to the front, the woman-mad Commander, Vershinin (Josh Magee) arrives with his pessimistic and miserable Captain, Solyony (Nathan Cavanagh). The sisters become a big attraction for the two soldiers. Who will marry? and will ever lasting love be found?
This story, which was said to be based on the Bronte sisters, was very well directed by Phil Miolin and Claire Crosby, they have made the play very accessible. Miolin has studied the ‘system’ of Konstantin Stanislavski (developed around 100 years ago) which examines control in performance, such as the emotions and the inspirations required to drive actors, and yet the actor must stay detached.
The Stanislavski techniques involve a discussion where actors and director pool their thoughts on the script and the characters until a clear understanding is formed, and the final goal a character wants to achieve. The actor is then required to analyse deeply his or her character's motivations. c.f. Mike Leigh. Lateral thinking in order to achieve his objective, and the ‘bits’ required to complete the aim. He was the first to take questions and problems of psychological significance directly. His description of the correct way of walking on stage, talking, even sitting on the stage - all of the complexities of human behaviour,
Phil has allowed the cast to employ the normal acting techniques, or to choose the Stanislavski ‘system’. Whilst the standard of acting was extremely good, two or three of the actors really became fully involved with their parts. Special praise to Louise Cocks and Michelle Snedden, with strong support from Verity Softly, Andrew Thom and Joshua Magee.
The costumes were ‘homemade’, but there were very authentic uniforms and beautiful gowns (Kelly Cameron and Kate Hart). Excellent sound design from Danni Close.
This play is a school set book, and for the school students wishing to capture the strength of Chekhov, his writing and skills in creating relationships, I can recommend this production.
‘The Three Sisters’, the popular masterpiece by playwright Anton Chekhov, is an honest gripping study of family relationships, immediately before the Russian Revolution. Showing at the Hayman Theatre, Building 102, Curtin University of Technology, Kent Street, Bentley at 8.00 pm nightly until Saturday 6th March.
Masha (Verity Softly) is sitting depressed, she has a very loving husband, Fyodor (Andrew Thom) but who totally lacks any excitement or passion. One of her sisters, Irina (Michelle Snedden) tinkles a gentle refrain on the piano, she too is desperate to be loved – could the Baron - Lieutenant (Patrick Cullen) be the man for her? The third sister, Olga (Emma Wilson) recalls, along with an old family friend (their mother’s lover?), the doctor (Andrew Clark), the happier days as she reflects on the death of her father exactly a year ago.
The sisters have a brother, Andrey (Jordan Nix) a gambling waster, with high ambitions to be mayor of the city. His wife Natasha (Louise Cocks), a manipulative, scheming ‘animal’ manages to rub up the whole household the wrong way, even wanting to dismiss the old nurse (Ruhama Geiger) after forty years service, and throw her out to the elements.
On their way to the front, the woman-mad Commander, Vershinin (Josh Magee) arrives with his pessimistic and miserable Captain, Solyony (Nathan Cavanagh). The sisters become a big attraction for the two soldiers. Who will marry? and will ever lasting love be found?
This story, which was said to be based on the Bronte sisters, was very well directed by Phil Miolin and Claire Crosby, they have made the play very accessible. Miolin has studied the ‘system’ of Konstantin Stanislavski (developed around 100 years ago) which examines control in performance, such as the emotions and the inspirations required to drive actors, and yet the actor must stay detached.
The Stanislavski techniques involve a discussion where actors and director pool their thoughts on the script and the characters until a clear understanding is formed, and the final goal a character wants to achieve. The actor is then required to analyse deeply his or her character's motivations. c.f. Mike Leigh. Lateral thinking in order to achieve his objective, and the ‘bits’ required to complete the aim. He was the first to take questions and problems of psychological significance directly. His description of the correct way of walking on stage, talking, even sitting on the stage - all of the complexities of human behaviour,
Phil has allowed the cast to employ the normal acting techniques, or to choose the Stanislavski ‘system’. Whilst the standard of acting was extremely good, two or three of the actors really became fully involved with their parts. Special praise to Louise Cocks and Michelle Snedden, with strong support from Verity Softly, Andrew Thom and Joshua Magee.
The costumes were ‘homemade’, but there were very authentic uniforms and beautiful gowns (Kelly Cameron and Kate Hart). Excellent sound design from Danni Close.
This play is a school set book, and for the school students wishing to capture the strength of Chekhov, his writing and skills in creating relationships, I can recommend this production.