"In so far as they go, constrained by a directorial conceit so sparing it’s distractingly ostentatious, I can’t fault the cast, but they yield little that couldn’t be obtained in more traditional, pleasure-giving Chekhov."
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"Its stripped back staging and threadbare aesthetic are a carefully calculated choice to amplify the profundity and tenacity of Anya Reiss' feisty, contemporary translation... the phenomenal acting performances of this universally brilliant company are what endures."
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"The staging is determinedly spare – just plastic chairs, chipboard walls. The actors are mic-ed up and barefoot, wearing comfy, floaty clothes. ... But where that show swaggered, using spoken word to bring electricity to the source material, this one feels too static – almost like a radio play."
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"We see Chekhov’s famed story and theatrical structures as a reflection of our current world, one that is divided and plagued with class divisions and sorrow and anxiety. Though even with the everpresent 'mourning,' there’s a surprising amount of laughter. Reiss’s telling hits the human spirit with great exactitude. Much of the observations feel like they were plucked from today’s ruminations."
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“While many people, most likely, will want to see The Seagull because of the star power of Emilia Clarke, is it actually her Game of Thrones co-star Indira Varma that steals the spotlight? Arkadina under the careful handling of Varma is a particularly vibrant character”
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"If you’re open to a show that makes noise quietly and thinks deeply, this ‘Seagull’ really flies."
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"There’s something jarring about watching an actor deliver a bravura performance surrounded by the bored faces of their fellow cast members: it’s a poignant reminder that even the most moving work of art will leave some people cold."
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"Emilia Clarke ... turns in a perfectly fine performance as the elfin young woman bewitched by the idea of making a career on the stage ... The piece as a whole, though, proves as overwrought as Konstantin’s aborted play."
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