The Seagull

 

When: 17th August 2022 (Matinee)

Where: Harold Pinter Theatre, London

Writer: Anton Chekov, Version by Anya Reiss

Director: Jamie Lloyd

I loved this play! I had read very little about it going in but from what I could tell it's like marmite people either loved it or hated it. 

One of the most striking things about this production for an audience is the set, comprised of a plain woodchip box and plastic green chairs. It's not realistic, it's not comfortable, but it sets the scene perfectly. This production presents its self much more as a character study, than a interesting story. The story is there and it keeps the play moving, but it is the characters that are portrayed that gives the production depth and keeps the audience intrigued. I loved the set, I think personally it felt very daring. I have been told over and over again never to use chairs because actors get stuck to them, and they do, but in this production they use this to their advantage. At this point in each characters life they are all stuck to something, some scared to detach, others yearning to detach, but the static nature of the chairs perfectly visualises this feeling of being stuck. They also showed movement, in the second half one of the chairs is lost and Konstantin is left without a chair showing how lost he has become in his own life. In the final long scene of the play he shares a chair with Nina, this is the only time two characters use a chair at the same time and whilst it creates a nice image it also shows the break down of a barrier, it brings them closer together creating the first real emotional connection between characters. I also noticed that in the background of this scene all the other actors sit in a formation but the 2 either side of the central chair (Nina and Konstantin) are not inline with each other. At first I thought they had simply not put the chairs in the right place but the precision of the chair placement throughout meant this was highly unlikely. Instead I think this asymmetry showed how despite the changes there was still something off in each characters life and that was never going to change.

There was no stand out performer in this, the whole thing is so reliant on characters and character interaction that it was the way all the actors worked together as an ensemble that made this play brilliant. Emilia Clarke is the name on all the posters but this is genuinely just because she plays the titular character, there are so many brilliant actors and well known faces who on the whole probably have more lines than her anyway. Each character has been deeply explored by their respective actor and it shows. Whilst the acting style was majorly naturalistic, they each pulled out a specific character trait to focus in on giving it a sort of stylistic feel without being over powering. There was also a physical theatre aspect of the production through the movement of the chairs, they moved very rarely but when they did it was choreographed with precision. 

One of the things that surprised me was how funny the play was. The majority of the characters and themes are emotionally driven, spoiler alert there's no happy ending, but the flippancy of many of the characters particularly Arkadina (Indira Varma) actually made many moments quite humorous. During one scene all the characters are playing a game of charades, it takes place in the background but every so often characters butt in with answers. The fast paced and sometimes randomness of this game make this scene one of the most light hearted. This humour does continue throughout other parts of the play but it is this scene in particular when the characters bounce off of each other and the ensemble is used brilliantly to create a shift in emotion. 

Don't let Chekov put you off. This is an updated version set in a modern day world, for the most part yes, it holds the original story and characters, but it feels clean and up to date. I have no other Chekov comparison but I expect it would usually be portrayed with a naturalistic set, realistic characters and upperclass long winded wording. All of which I probably still would have enjoyed but I understand that is not everyones cup of tea. This production felt nothing like this, and even if you don't like Chekov I would give it a chance, it's a thoroughly intriguing production that is not your everyday play. 

I would say this probably isn't a first time play, there are so many nuances that will please regular theatre goers but will simply go over the heads of those who don't see many plays. It's not handed out to you on a plate, it requires a little concentration which is not difficult due to how easily you will be drawn in, but don't expect to sit back and relax it's not a musical.