At the Arcola Theatre until 16 July

Chekov’s play,' Seagull', explores resistance to change in life and the theatre, and misguided, misdirected love, which ultimately leads to suicide by a young man who cannot win approval or interest from the two central women in his life.

Director Jo Blatchely teases out all the comedy and his production makes for a very entertaining evening. This ‘lightening’ of the mood is tied in with his new co-translation (with Charlotte Pyke and John Kerr), giving a  contemporary natural tone to the language, whilst restoring some original features that the Russian censor removed from Chekov’s text in 1896. Elegant costume design by Dora Schweitzer is a striking feature of the production.

The Central message that comes across is that the self-obsessed focus of the older characters squanders the promise, youth and potential of the younger generation. The same cannot be said of this star led cast with the younger members of the emsemble being brought to the fore alongside Geraldine James as Arkadina, and Roger Lloyd Pack as Dorn. The ‘all about me’ tag fits ‘older’ actresss Arkadina, perfectly, as her son Kostya remarks when I’m around she’s 53 and when I’m not she’s 42. The impossibility for Arkadina to show  her son love is that it would then relinquish her own centrality.She has so many unlikeable traits and actions, yet, despite our best instincts, we are won over by Geraldine James who makes Arkadina a funny and strong character. There is almost a self-mockery in her potrayal, and James creates a self-awareness that, as she crushes and controls her son, it is her own failing. Will Knightly as Kostya’s uncle Sorin, delivers all the warmth and affection that his sister cannot give to her son.

Roger Lloyd Pack as Dorn, doctor and family friend, is the only one who acknowledges Kostya’s talent, unafraid of looking forwards. His performance is measured, funny but also inciteful; in the final moment he delivers the news of the young man’s suicide to Trigorin his mother’s younger lover, with extreme understatement, beginning ‘the thing is….’ Again one of the nuances of Bletchley’s refreshing translation.  Both Yolanda Kettle as Nina and Al Weaver as Konstantin deliver warm and honest portrayals. Kettle makes a transition from innocent, hopeful girl, to poverty-stricken, grief-laden jobbing actress, ‘from the suburbs to the provinces’, in a genuinely moving and dignified performance. Blatchley’s choice of words in his translation where Dorn refers to the middle aged Trigorin having ‘groomed’ her, is loaded with contemporary connotation and adds tremendous power to the scenario. Al Weaver as Konstantin, from the opening act where his symbolist play is met with disinterest nigh on mockery, particularly by his mother, to his final departure, expresses creativity, emotional longing and warmth in an extremely well measured performance. Playing Masha, Jodie Mcnee gives a great performance loaded with intelligence and a dark but honest take on her situation.It is noticeable the mothers created by Chekov in this play all display a gaping lack of maternal instinct and self-serving focus in their own interests.

Bryony Hegarty

Tickets £11 - £17 and Pay What You Can Tuesdays

Box Office 0207 503 1646

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For a  previous article on Seagull, click here: The Seagull at the Arcola: June 9 - July 16