Comments on: Modigliani and Chekhov http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modigliani-and-chekhov/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:06:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christopher http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modigliani-and-chekhov/comment-page-1/#comment-89259 Christopher Wed, 30 May 2007 10:54:30 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=285#comment-89259 The main challenge for any production of “The Seagull” is making the characters likeable. While they’re probably & understandably depressed, we should never see them give into it. They struggle mightily, and that’s why we root for them. If a production can accomplish that, “The Seagull” is a moving and memorable play. For a fuller treatment/analysis of this play, see: http://www.helium.com/tm/259249/ <strong>jb says</strong>: Thanks for the comments, Christopher; and the link to a rather enlightening article. The main challenge for any production of “The Seagull” is making the characters likeable. While they’re probably & understandably depressed, we should never see them give into it. They struggle mightily, and that’s why we root for them. If a production can accomplish that, “The Seagull” is a moving and memorable play.

For a fuller treatment/analysis of this play, see:

http://www.helium.com/tm/259249/

jb says: Thanks for the comments, Christopher; and the link to a rather enlightening article.

]]> By: Cam http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modigliani-and-chekhov/comment-page-1/#comment-5611 Cam Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:19:25 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=285#comment-5611 I saw <em>Modigliani and His Models</em> in July and was glad that I went. In error, I walked through the exhibit in the wrong direction, so I saw the later works first. In an odd way, I think it made clearer the evolution of Modigliani's style. <strong>jb says</strong>: Sounds like the way I read magazines, Cam. I saw Modigliani and His Models in July and was glad that I went. In error, I walked through the exhibit in the wrong direction, so I saw the later works first. In an odd way, I think it made clearer the evolution of Modigliani’s style.

jb says: Sounds like the way I read magazines, Cam.

]]> By: John Baker http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modigliani-and-chekhov/comment-page-1/#comment-5605 John Baker Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:57:47 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=285#comment-5605 I enjoyed it enormously while it was happening in front of me and, still, in retrospect, I think it was a fine play, well-handled by all the cast. Mitchell and Crimp took enormous liberties with the text, and although I'm uneasy with the idea of doing that, nevertheless, in this instance I thought it worked to everyone's advantage, including Chekhov's (though he may not agree, were he still around). I thought the ploy of bringing the play-within-a-play forward to the opening act, and the device of showing it to us from 'behind' the actors worked well. I missed the written-out part of the school-teacher's marriage, but not a lot. And in the last act I thought the lighting was too dim. I wanted to see the actors facial expressions, and though I was sitting quite near to the stage, I couldn't make them out. What more can I say, overall it worked for me. I thought it worked very well indeed. But I hope we don't get a rash of 'rewritten' classics in the wake of it. It certainly won't work everytime. I enjoyed it enormously while it was happening in front of me and, still, in retrospect, I think it was a fine play, well-handled by all the cast. Mitchell and Crimp took enormous liberties with the text, and although I’m uneasy with the idea of doing that, nevertheless, in this instance I thought it worked to everyone’s advantage, including Chekhov’s (though he may not agree, were he still around).
I thought the ploy of bringing the play-within-a-play forward to the opening act, and the device of showing it to us from ‘behind’ the actors worked well.
I missed the written-out part of the school-teacher’s marriage, but not a lot.
And in the last act I thought the lighting was too dim. I wanted to see the actors facial expressions, and though I was sitting quite near to the stage, I couldn’t make them out.
What more can I say, overall it worked for me. I thought it worked very well indeed.
But I hope we don’t get a rash of ‘rewritten’ classics in the wake of it. It certainly won’t work everytime.

]]> By: AndrewE http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modigliani-and-chekhov/comment-page-1/#comment-5603 AndrewE Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:32:33 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=285#comment-5603 Saw the Katie Mitchell production quite a while back, I'd be interested to know what you think. Saw the Katie Mitchell production quite a while back, I’d be interested to know what you think.

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