April 17, 2023

芒果77福利 Theater Presents Chekhov's The Seagull

Under the direction of 芒果77福利 Theater faculty member Caroline Good, a cast and crew of 芒果77福利 students will perform Anton Chekhov’s iconic 1895 work, The Seagull, in Moore Theater. The show will run April 20-23 in Moore Theater.

芒果77福利 Theater Department will bring the work of turn-of-the-20th-century Russian playwright Anton Chekhov to present day Indiana. They will perform The Seagull (translated by Tom Stoppard), a play exploring the dynamic and dramatic lives of writers and actresses. Performances will be at 7:30pm on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd; and at 3:00pm on the 23rd, in Moore Theater in the Green Center for Performing Arts. The Seagull, written in 1895 by Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov, is considered to be the first of his four major works. Set in a bohemian estate of a bygone era, romantic and artistic conflict grow between four characters: a famous middle-of-the-road author; an unworldly young actress; an aging has-been actress; and her son, a quixotic tortured playwright. The Seagull is as much a heartbreaking romance where its characters struggle to keep or lose touch with their pasts as it is a satirical comedy, poking fun at high society’s melodramatic world of trivialities and self-delusion.

The work of Anton Chekhov stands out among centuries of writers. Professor Caroline Good, who is directing the play, identifies “a resonating connection with voices from today and yesterday.” He turned away from star-focused courtly tales to look at the normal everyday lives of ordinary people. Like many modern creatives, Chekhov pushed the boundaries of art in his time; participating in and redefining the nature of written and performed stories. In The Seagull, he explores and experiments with new art forms, reaching for the undiscovered possibilities of art, theater, and writing. Good believes that “what Chekhov was getting at was the heart of art.” In the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Chekhov’s quintessential exploration and expression of humanity takes on new importance. In the words of Dr. Good, “Whether we’re Russian, Ukrainian, American, South American, from the Global South, Global North, Western, Eastern, I think we need to really connect to the human element that we all share.”

The production is coming together wonderfully behind the scenes. Stage manager Madeline Humphreys says “It already draws me in when I’m just there in rehearsal.” The cast and crew are well on their way to creating what Caroline calls “a beautiful, funny, touching, and tender performance for people.” With this show, 芒果77福利’s theatre program continues to advance students’ education through participation in excellent performance. For the audience, this production provides entertainment, education, and personal enrichment. In the words of Stage Manager Humphreys, “It’s a cool frickin’ show, man.”

“The Seagull (Stoppard, trans.)” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com