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Second City (confd from page 4)not block plays and a director need not do so; but he ought to restrain random movement. Less talented actors in the production seemed to be fidgety. And large scenes got to be very busy because of a tendency to re-group after every second or third speech.The abundance of movement and the flamboyant gestures combined with weak readings of the lines to give the occasional impression that one was watching a puppet show. The impression was reinforced by the set, which, during half the play was lit in such a manner that unseen actors behind flats cast huge shadows on a canvas drop upstage. One got the impression that what went on behind the scenes was much more important than what could be seen. Since entering and exiting actors also cast large shadows, one felt, too, as though another level of reality were being hinted at. Both ideas are dead wrong for Chekhov.hyde park herald wedaesday, decern ber 6, 1967 9nov-Pischchik that . theylooked like two borscht-beltvaudeviIlians when they talked and carried on together. But it was never clear tome whether Piven knew thatYet against these flaws must be set several remarkable acting performances. Tom Erhart as Leonid Gayev was both lovable and dignified. He moves and speaks with great gravity and composure and he made Gayev a much more winning cha-ractor than I had imagined him.Beatrice Fredman as Charlotta Ivanovna, the governess was also marvellous. She acts with wonderful restraint and timing and can make the simplest gesture terribly funny. Several actors in smaller roles were also good. Joseph Bell played Yepikhodov with great gusto and good sense. Joyce Hiller was well-cast as Varya. Eugenie Ross as Anya did not speak well, but she began the play with a warmth and vitality that more than compensated.Byrne Piven as Lopakhin was consistant and forceful, but the characterization seemed wrong somehow. It is at least partly the fault of Mel Spiegel as Semyo-Lopakhin was a great vulgarian. Piven*s florid acting style did make Lopakhin look like a nouveau riche peasant, but was it intentional?Donna Holabird as Lyubov Andreyevna was a great disappointment. She was immensely inconsistant in accent and manner. Lyubov is a generous, warm-hearted fading grande dame; Mrs. Holabird as Lyubov was silly, confused, and nearly pathetic.It is probably worth seeing any production of this very moving and funny play and the performances of Erhart and Miss Fredman in this production are, in themselves, worth the price of a ticket. Moreover, one ought not overlook the fact that repertory theatres are made and not bom. Only by supporting these early productions can one hope for others of higher quality in thefumre.
Newspaper Details
Hyde Park Herald
Hyde Park, Illinois, US
Wed, Dec 06, 1967
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Loyola U.
IL, USA 30 Mar 2020
Other Publications Near Hyde Park, Illinois
Hyde Park Herald
