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Arts & Entertainment

Theater Review: 'The Seagull' by The Antaeus Company

Utilizing the usual two casts, Antaeus manages to clearly define where they are as a theater company and why they so brilliantly specialize in the classics.

In a good Anton Chekhov play every word matters. In a great one every breath does.

A perfect example of the latter is the production of Chekhov’s The Seagull running in the NoHo Arts District through April 15 at the Deaf West Theatre.

Utilizing the usual two casts, Antaeus manages to clearly define where they are as a theater company and why they so brilliantly specialize in the classics.

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This is Chekhov boldly searching for new forms of theatre amongst time-honored ideals such as love, family, country and art.

But it is the humanity and quiet poignancy with which Antaeus underscores and searches for the truth that sets it apart from other forays into the classics.

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From the opening scene where Treplev admits to thoughts of theatre not as it is, but as it should be, to the last where he and Nina attempt to discover the meaning of true love, this is a play where passion and tragedy go hand-in-hand.

Set on an idyllic country estate by a lake in 19th century Russia, the locale belies the turbulent passion of its inhabitants. When the famed, but aging actress Irina Arkadina returns home with her younger lover, she finds a household overflowing with creativity, fantasies of fame, jealousy and unrequited love.

Though also a comedy, this dark fable establishes itself and Antaeus as vessels for the human condition in a very intense and dramatic style and sense.

The brooding here is replaced by laughter and a two-hour lesson in class, political and social.

Chekhov’s writing is simple and pure. Not a syllable is wasted or possibility unturned.

The direction by Andrew J. Traister is soulful, energetic and long on symbolism and feeling.

Paul Schmidt’s translation is clear and unencumbered.

Laura Wernette (Arkadina) as the only major character in both casts, shines in presence and stature. Her strength stabilizes the play. This is an actress playing an actress.

As Nina, Jules Willcox and Abby Wilde showcase a tender human frailty not found in many actresses, stage or screen.

Michael McShane and Gregory Itzin are solid and humble as Sorin.

Both Adrian LeTourelle and Bo Foxworth as the writer Trigorin are realistic yet wonderfully artistic.

Avery Clyde and Joanna Strapp as Masha are particularly tragicomic.

But it is Joe Delafield and Antonio Jaramillo as Treplev that propel this production into uncharted waters in terms of emotion and depth.

Delafield, in particular, is Treplev. His moods and passions give away a young man on the brink of self-inflicted madness.

The play is aided by the lighting design of Jeremy Pivnick, the costume design of A. Jeffrey Schoenberg and the sound design of Jeff Gardner.

All in all, both casts prove to be as different as asphalt and water, concrete and air. One more tragic, the other more intellectual.

This "Seagull" is unique if not in scope and geometry then in the amount of laughter, suffering and joy it brings to the stage at one time.

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

The Antaeus Company @ The Deaf West Theatre

5112 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood 91601

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