Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” has strong acting, confusing storyline

By SUE SUCHYTA

            The Underground Company at Wayne State University, in the Studio Theater beneath the Hilberry, which has been quiet during the summer for too long, launched a three-show summer session in Midtown last week for a month long run.

            The company of young actors have committed to “making art, exploring classical and contemporary plays, and seeking intimate discoveries.”

            Bekah Brunstetter’s “Oohrah, ” which opened the run, shows two more times, at 8 p.m. July 30 and 31.

            Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens July 24, and continues it runs July 25, 26, 28 and Aug. 2.  

            Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” continues its run at 8 p.m. July 19, 29 and Aug. 1 in the Studio Theater.

            Chekhov’s play “The Three Sisters” is set in Russia. Born into an aristocratic family, the three Prozorov sisters struggle to find meaning in a small provincial town while longing to return to the sophistication of Moscow.

            The three sisters, Olga, Masha, and Irina, offer a glimpse into the lives and minds of the privileged class in Russia at the turn of the twentieth century.

            One of Chekhov’s major works, the drama remains one of his most popular plays.

            The Studio company performs the show in modern dress, and swaps out some of the male roles for female roles, which is a little disconcerting with one of the departing “soldiers” – who has been played as a female party girl – is predicted to find a “Polish bride” at her new assignment.

            I must admit that I went into the show not knowing the plot or characters for Chekhov’s “Three Sisters.” The acting is superb, and the cast kept the energy at a high level. 

            However, I wish I had a scorecard to keep track of the different characters, and who was having an affair with whom.  Chekhov is a bit more subtle about people having affairs than modern playwrights are, and you have to focus the verbal clues and the actors’ body language to figure out what is going on.

            The three sisters are bright, but often clueless: raised with a wonderful education, they never expected to use their learning to support themselves and be independent.  They have vague dreams of returning to Moscow, their own version of Eden. As a modern woman, I wanted to shake the characters and tell them to take charge of their own destiny without relying on men.

            Alexis Barrera is marvelous as Masha; she puts an enormous amount of energy and emotion into her role. 

            Her sisters, played by Egla Kishta as Irina and Naomi Shangle as Olga, deliver strong performances as well.  The best moments are when the three are interacting together. 

            Others in  the cast includes Jordan Fritz as Andrey; Tiaja Sabrie as Natasha; John Denyer as Kulygin; Logan Hart as Vershinin; Dylan Koblin as Tuzenbakh; Adham Aljahmi as Solyony; Chris Stanley Peterson as Chebutykin; Clearie McCarthy as Fedotik; Madison Miller as Rode; Chris Stanley Peterson as Ferapont; and Amelia Gillis as Anfisa.