Event Article

There's always a different feel to a play when it is performed in a smaller auditorium, it feels special and elite, as was the case with The Seagull, performed in the Browyn Dodson Theatre this past week.

The play was written and takes place in the late 19th Century and documents the love and tragedy between a group of actors, artists, and writers gathered on a Russian estate.

The frenzy begins when playwright Konstantin Treplev's (Ryan Knight) play receives a less than enthusiastic response from his egotistical, exaggerated actress mother Irina Arkadina (Brittney Levine) and company. To make matters worse Konstantin is in love with the star of his play, Nina Zarechnaya (Mariah McCormick), but she instead is head over heels for Boris Triogrin (David Anis), a successful and established writer who just happens to be with Konstantin's mother. Meanwhile gloomy Masha Ilyinichia (Amber Rose Dische) is desperate for Konstantin's attention but he could care less - a giant love triangle resulting in both comic and tragic results.

The most fun part about this play was wondering what outfit the characters were going to be wearing next. Each of them, especially the ladies, were dressed to impress in elegant 19th century attire perfectly matching their character's personality. Nina, the innocent aspiring actress, for the majority of the play wore long flowy white dresses as her light brown, long hair covered her back. Masha, the depressed one, wore black and dark purple to match her tightly pinned-up, jet black hair. Irina, the famous actress, wore the most elegant and beautiful outfits complete with furs and all, to match her auburn hair and sophisticated demeanor.

For the men, their hair and makeup was most impressive and quite realistic - most of the men's hair and facial hair was colored gray and white. Even the stage crew was dressed in 19th Century attire when it came time to change the set pieces for the next act.

The set pieces and lighting were also very outstanding. A vibrant blue sky projection backdrop changed as the time did in the play, at one point the moon was even present. Trees and plants surrounded the stage in the first two acts while in the last two acts fancied wooden furniture, a lit chandelier, elegant vases,fabrics and throws that adorned the stage.

The character's use of the aisles was also charming. One could try and examine the characters and look for a flaw in make-up, hair, or costume. However, it is safe to say these characters looked flawless and delivered great performances.

Brittney Levine stole the show with her overbearing, comical presence as did Ryan Knight whose emotions resounded on stage. The two actors combined delivered a strong, emotional mother-son performance. Another notable performance was delivered by Derek Dillon, who played Konstantin's asthmatic uncle, Peter Sorin who spent the majority of the play wheeling himself around in an old-fashioned wheelchair and talking in a perfectly mastered kind, shaky old man's voice.