Bonga Swetso! This play is alive! Under the direction of Willem Wassanaar, Long Cloud Youth Theatre’s production of Chekhov’s The Seagull is vibrant, fast-paced and very funny.

What play could be more ideal for a group of talented youth than this that brims with love and art? All of the actors demonstrate an understanding of human nature beyond their years as they tackle Chekhov’s play without missing any of its philosophy or emotion (“I am writing a play with…a great deal of conversation about literature, little action…tons of love.” Anton Chekhov) but without ever drying it out.

All too frequently ‘old classics’ are presented to us so carefully and surrounded by such a tangible awe that they lose the very elements that made them classics in the first place. Wassenaar’s production breathes.   

The set is simple but ingenious, allowing a staging that enables Konstantin’s (Riley Brophy) play-within-a-play to be accessible to the real and acted audiences. This is mirrored by the actors who rarely leave our sight and instead ‘exit’ to sit at the back of the stage and watch (very engagingly) the action.

The fourth wall is broken before the play begins as the actors introduce themselves by name and quirky fact, setting the audience up well for the musings on the nature of theatre contained in the play.

It is difficult to pick highlights from the tight ensemble of performers, but special mention must be made of both Felix Borthwick, whose portrayal of the elderly and ailing Sorin never falls over the edge into parody or caricature, and Michael Boyes’ nervy, mildly camp and wickedly funny Trigorin.

Ingrid Saker’s performance of Nina’s solo show had all the absurd brilliance of a flyaway YouTube hit.

I highly recommend taking this rare opportunity to see fresh young talent combine with a play that has stood the test of time.
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