SOUTH DEERFIELD — In preparation for this weekend’s productions of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” Frontier Regional School students had to dig deep within themselves to take on characters unlike any they’ve played before.
Written in 1895 and filled with an ensemble of complex characters, the cast spoke about the process of trying to empathize and take on the role of someone living in the Russian countryside in the 19th century.
“I’ve really grown to embrace her. … She’s very much a teen trapped in an adult’s body,” said junior Abby Burgess, who is taking on the role of the aging actress Irina Arkadina. Burgess added there are several levels to acting Irina, as the “complicated” character may say one thing, but her body language conveys another message.
“The Seagull” takes place in Russia in the late 1800s and follows Konstantin Treplev, a young playwright who lives in the shadow of his mother, Irina. The play weaves a web of love triangles and requires a deep reading of the underlying themes of the play as it explores deep, complex topics.
Director Gian DiDonna said he picked the play because of its difficulty and status as a “marquee” theater piece. Challenging his students to take on this complex play, he said, is a way to build up a base of acting experience for more complex plays in the future — he wants to try Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” next year — while encouraging the kids to explore a new type of character.
“These kids needed this as a fundamental,” DiDonna said while they were rehearsing an ensemble scene. “It’s a good opportunity to find a character’s truth and tell that truth … and when they find that inner truth, I feel a sense of pride.”
In finding a character’s “truth,” students like senior James Zeoli, who is taking on the lead role of Konstantin, said he found parts of himself in a place where he didn’t expect it. One of the major threads of the play is following Konstantin’s mental health as he seeks love and approval for himself and his work.
“Me and this character have a lot in common. … I can connect with him. We’ve both been through a lot of difficult times,” Zeoli said, who added he is excited to be taking on his first lead role. “I hope people will be inspired by this absolute classic.”
Beyond nailing the theme of the characters themselves, another layer of difficulty is added on by the complex literary themes and the reliance on character’s emotions, dialogue and body language. One student even said DiDonna had them practice posture by balancing books on their head while practicing a scene.
“The thing with Chekhov is, if you don’t nail it, it’s boring as hell,” DiDonna said. “The energy has to be spot-on.”
Sophomore Kate Demaio, who is playing Polina Andryevna, said the extensive use of the underlying themes creates a “very interesting” play that engages the audience on several levels.
“There’s a lot of characters slowly spiraling while they put up a facade,” Demaio said. “I hope some people will be able to relate to that.”
“The Seagull” will be performed Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets, which will be on sale at the door, are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. The school website adds a disclaimer that “The Seagull” is a dramatic comedy, but serious themes — including self-harm — are explored and “adult supervision should be considered due to sensitive material and events that unfold over the course of the play.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081