From Russia With Love
By Anton Chekov
Directed by David Green
Three of Chekhov’s great one-act comedies — together with a play inspired by two of his most well-known characters are brought vividly to life by Open Space.
The Bear
The Proposal
The Evils of Tobacco
Afterplay
Brian Friel's play creates an extraordinary encounter between two of Chekhov’s lost souls, Sonya from Uncle Vanya and Andrey from The Three Sisters, now middle aged and unable to escape the baggage of their earlier lives.
Performed Autumn 2012
Cast
The Bear
Cathy Gill as Popova
Stephen Picton as Smirnov
Patrick Quorn
The Proposal
Grant Filshill
Emma Martin
Alan Bolton
The Evils of Tobacco
Alan Bolton
Afterplay
Cathy Gill
Stephen Picton
‘David Green directs perceptively, demanding no pre-knowledge of Russian theatre, just a readiness to laugh and feel a lump in the throat.’
— David Porter, EADT
Review - David Porter, EADT
Ever-inventive Open Space are touring comic Chekhov gems and a poignant ‘what if’ study from two tragedies.
High-energy romp, The Proposal, sees man (Grant Filshill) call on father (Alan Bolton) to ask for the hand of daughter (Emma Martin). A land dispute quickly degenerates into a delicious, insult-throwing barney.
The Bear is a bad-tempered stranger (Stephen Picton) calling on a widow (Cathy Gill) to collect her late husband’s debt. His raging turns to instant infatuation. The old retainer (Patrick Quorn) and the attempted pistol duel are hilarious.
The Evils of Tobacco is a monologue in the form of a lecture from a hen-pecked husband (Alan Bolton) which is really about his wife and his own disappointing life.
Afterplay is a Brian Friel duet putting Uncle Vanya’s Sonya (Cathy Gill) with The Three Sisters’ Andrei (Stephen Picton) in an imaginary meeting 20 years after their own dramas. Their hesitant relationship on a tide of vodka and wild hopes is dashed on the realities of lives.
David Green directs perceptively, demanding no pre-knowledge of Russian theatre, just a readiness to laugh and feel a lump in the throat.