Theater: Chekhov Style

 

Where to begin...these people right here, these beautiful humans, have been an integral part of my life the past couple months. We have gone on this journey that started big and loud, morphed into confusion and chaos which led to vulnerability of the best kind "no mustard", no "acting" just truth, and we sprinkled in a lot of play and hard work that left us wide open to each other. Our heart on the outside pulsing, fearful, but willing to trust and then we brought back the bells, the trumpets, the heightened continuity that has culminated into...well...Chekhov.  Chekhov in its purest form: funny, uncomfortable, alluring, and heart-rending. Comedy and tragedy on the opposite sides of a very fine line.

At the helm of the production is this guy, Whit Hertford. He wrote and directed this adaptation of Ivanov by Anton Chekhov and called it "Poor Bastard". These are his thoughts on producing classic plays for the present day:

"there's nothing interesting about a history lesson in the theatre or keeping classic works in a glass case museum display. this is a form of death and dormancy.

reject feeding into the rank fear to reinvent and resuscitate. both in the interpretation and the practice.

we have to give oxygen to lungs which have been filled w/ dust.

shakespeare, marlowe, ibsen, strindberg, chekhov, brecht made efforts to shake the cage of the elite. they wanted immediacy. not idolatry."

We cultivated this new work with our sweat and lots of tears. We breathed life into a contemporary Chekhov play, set in 1991 in a city much like Salt Lake. We threw ourselves into the ring. We strived to be on the same page in energy, honesty, and style. It was exhausting. So...about a week before we opened. A Saturday morning. We just hung out to regroup before going into tech week. You know you feel comfortable around a group of people when you can wear onesie pajamas. (I am looking at you Andy, Josh and Haeleigh...and for that matter I am looking at you, Joel, for spending most of your time with us in a bathrobe, underwear, and socks...)

The following are some of my favorite shots that epitomize each character from the show:

Joel Huff - Ivan

Mark Macey - Borkin

Olivia Custodio - Anna

Andy Rindlisbach - Gene

Haeleigh Royall - Kina

Tamari Dunbar - Zinny

Roger Dunbar - Paul

Brighton Hertford - Sasha

Rehearsal Highlight: Whit's laugh was always welcome. We knew we were on the right track when he would laugh. (love this candid moment: Whit doesn't smile much in photos)

Josh Patterson - Stage Manager (and all around nice guy)

Alex Woods - Assistant TO the Director (No...Assistant Director for reals)

Our performance space was in the basement of this downtown art gallery. (chic)

Bobby Cody, lighting designer, and Whit discussing crucial, yet complicated tech business. (easiest tech ever)

A glimpse of our backstage area. All cement, cinder block, brick and mortar. This place has atmosphere, this place has history. (and it is quite cold)

Thoughts on my Character: “Modern dramatists start their plays exclusively with angels, cads and buffoons - try and find those elements anywhere in Russia! Sure, you’ll find them but not in such extreme forms as dramatists requite. I wanted to do something original; I didn’t hatch out a single villain, a single angel (though I couldn’t refrain from buffoons). I didn’t accuse anyone. I didn’t acquit anyone.” - Anton Chekhov to his brother, Aleksandr | 24 October 1887

Zinny is one of those buffoons Chekhov couldn't renounce. Thank goodness...

Playing her is delicious. She is the phony, yet seemingly perfect neighbor next door who gives the impression that she has it all together, but behind closed doors her life is messy, empty, and unfulfilling. She tries desperately to keep up appearances, but fails miserably. The pressure cooker that she has created single-handedly is on full throttle and she is always one insignificant outside comment or action away from exploding.

Icing on the Cake: I needed to add this side by side photo because let's face it...he's adorable. To work on stage with my partner and best friend is such a joy. I love that we had this experience together. We have a shared history with this show that will not happen again in the same way. Experiences like this are rare. But, we can look back together and remember how exhausted we were after rehearsals, how we both, at multiple but separate times, had to buoy the other up through bouts of insecurity, and how we became friends with a group of people that we now consider FAMILY.

Our Cast (our family)

Poor Bastard 2017