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from the issue of November 3, 2005
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Russian directs UNL Theatre's 'Seagull'
University Theatre, the academic year production program at UNL's Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, continues its 105th season with the Russian classic "The Seagull," written by Anton Chekhov, translated by Richard Nelson.
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| | | UNL PERFORMERS - Graduate students Rachel Charlop-Powers (standing), Flynt Burton (front row, at left) and Andrew Beck play Arkadina, Nina and Trigorin in the UNL Theatre production of "The Seagull," Nov. 10-19 in Howell Theatre. Courtesy photo.
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Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, and at 2 p.m. Nov. 13 in Howell Theatre, first floor Temple Building.
On a Russian country estate, Konstantin stages a play attended by his mother Arkadina, a famous aging actress, and her young lover, Trigorin, a famous writer. The budding young actress, Nina, becomes enchanted with Trigorin, devastating Konstantin. A story of the complexities of relationships and unrequited love.
The cast features the class of Master of Fine Arts acting students in primary roles. They are Rachel Charlop-Powers as Arkadina, an actress: Flynt Burton as Nina, a young girl, daughter of a rich landowner; Acquah Dansoh as Shamreyev, a retired lieutenant who manages Sorin's estate; Ja'nelle Taylor as Shamreyev's wife Polina; Andrew Beck as Trigorin, a writer; Jim Hopkins as Dorn, a doctor; and Greg Parmeter as Medvedenko, a schoolteacher. Undergraduate cast members are Seth Petersen as Konstantin, Jerry Temple as Sorin, Mikael Walter as Masha, Ivan Lovegren as Yakov, Natallia Tullis as Cook, Carrie Brown as Maid and Sean Kloc as Workman.
Designs are by Master of Fine Arts design students Jeff Weber (scenic), Jeff O'Brien (sound/composition), and Cassie Vorbach (lighting). Costumes are by associate professor Janice Stauffer. Stage management is by undergraduate Brandi Kawamoto.
Tatiana Anosova directs the production along with Virginia Smith, UNL associate professor.
"I've chosen the most American adaptation I can find to make the production as clear as we can for our audience," Smith said. "I think this is set in an achingly beautiful place - the lake, the trees, the shining grass. The fireflies. The stars! It is so beautiful it seems like a place where dreams come true. The people in the play are aching viscerally for love. They are like, to steal a phrase, 'teakettles about to boil.' The humor comes from the passions. The passions are not chaste and tepid. They are visceral, painful, even life-altering."
Anosova is currently associate professor at the Chair of Actor's Skills at the M.S. Shchepkin Higher Theatre College (Institute) at the State Academic Malyi Theatre of Russia in Moscow. Anosova is at UNL as part of an exchange program with the M.S. Shchepkin Higher Theatre College (Institute) at the State Academic Malyi Theatre of Russia.
The exchange program has also included a visit to the Russian college's Podium Festival by Smith and former theatre chair Jeff Elwell, and a performance at the same festival in 2005 by the UNL production of "The Voice of the Prairie."
Tickets are available at the Lied Center, 472-4747.
GO TO: ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 3
ARTS HEADLINES FOR NOVEMBER 3
Russian directs UNL Theatre's 'Seagull'
Acclaimed violinist to make Lied debut
American Life in Poetry
Arlo Guthrie returns for 'Restaurant Massacre' tour
At the Ross
UNL's Hillestad Gallery features work of Smith
732253S35153X
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