October 1–11, 2015

Leeds Theatre

Written by Anton Chekhov. Directed by Laura Rikard.

Any idiot can face a crisis-it’s day to day living that wears you out”
– Anton Chekhov

A play is performed on the shore of a lake. Its young idealistic author is devastated when his work is mocked by his family and friends. Passions and jealousies rise as his beloved gives her heart to his rival. With a hint of absurdist humor and melancholy, The Seagull explores our unquenchable human desire to live an extraordinary life.

The Jean-Claude van Itallie English translation of The Seagull was performed in Leeds Theatre at Brown University Theatre from October 1–4 & 8–11, and was directed by Laura Rikard, a Visiting Assistant Professor for Theatre in the Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies at Brown University.

The Seagull, by Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov, was written in 1895; first produced in 1896, and considered to be the first of his four major works. Set in a bohemian estate from a bygone era, romantic and artistic conflict grow between four characters: a famous middle-of-the-road author; the candid Nina; a has-been actress named Irina Arkadina; and her son, the emblematic playwright, Konstantin Tréplev. The Seagull is a heart-breaking romance where its characters struggle to remember, forget, and move on from the past.