Anton Chekhov’s 1896 play The Seagull is a remarkable naturalistic drama about the struggles of fame, ambition, and unrequited love. This modern classic is an affecting exploration of the volatility of the arts and the trials of mediocrity — but there was nothing mediocre about EUTC’s production. This adaptation is tender, humorous, and fiercely loyal to the timeless humanity of Chekhov’s writing.
The play begins in the church rafters with an atmospheric acapella song by Daisy Casemore, who plays the young aspiring actress Nina. Casemore performs a musical seagull motif, which adds a haunting echo throughout, mirroring the famous image of the dead seagull and representing the decline of Nina’s youthful, untethered spirit. The musical elements — such as the cast’s vocals layered over Liam Jackson’s guitar — create a dreamlike quality that complement the sombre scenes. This production even adds a personal touch with a whistled rendition of ‘Auld Lang Syne.’
Before the performance began, I was struck by the expertly dressed set with a backlit hoisted moon, and the haze hanging across the stage. The lighting produces a blue lunar quality, and a thin curtain was drawn to add texture and partial obscurity, becoming functionally effective in the play’s metatheatrical moments. Props are purposeful and placed intricately so the actors can seamlessly pluck flowers from a plant bed. While the costume and staging has elements that were true to the original 19th-century Russian setting, the production is ultimately time and place non-descript.
Director Orly Benn and the entire production team must be commended for the casting, execution, and delivery. Despite the characters’ generational differences, the actors embody their ages, class, and qualities through meticulous physicality and tone. Ava Vaccari masterfully depicts the narcissism of old actress Arkadina, complemented by the mysterious, ever-scribbling writer Trigorin (Jorren Dykstra). Benny Harrison and Daisy Casemore’s chemistry as Konstantin and Nina intimately expresses the pair’s naïve pursuit of artistic success and the devastation of lovelorn torture. The characters’ intimate web of unrequited love produces moments of tentative humour and unparalleled grief. The dense dialogue and monologues from Chekov’s play are delivered with flair, performed with an effortless novelty.
Deservedly the winner of the University of Edinburgh’s English and Scottish Literature Play Award, EUTC’s The Seagull is a pertinent portrayal of the innate human desire for admiration and connection.
Image by Isabel Beiboer, provided as press material.