The broadway version is adapted from “The Seagull” by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, first performed in 1896. The play is a four-act drama focusing on the lives and relationships of several characters, all artists, who gather at a country estate. It deals with lost opportunities and the clash between generations.
“The Seagull” is considered a masterpiece of modern drama and has significantly influenced the development of theatre and literature. It has been adapted into many different forms, including films, operas, and plays, and continues to be widely performed and studied today.
Off Broadway Production at Pershing Square Signature Center
This performance would be filmed so we could pick up tickets at a great price. While it was an evening performance that ended up longer than we expected, this was a long weekend. The play started shortly after 7:30 pm and ran until 10 pm. We missed our but and had to wait another 20 minutes, so it was a long evening.
Louise prefers musical live performances as she finds plays in English challenging. I wanted to see the play for a couple of reasons. First, one of the actors is Parker Posey, who I have always found interesting. She has been called the “Indie film Queen,” but I see her as more eccentric. This role was perfect for her. More subtle than the role she played as Dr.Smith on the recent “Lost In Space” television show. Second, I knew it would be a smaller, more intimate theatre, and it was. It was semi-in-the-round, and all the seats in the orchestra seemed close up and personal, unlike my visit to see the play “Pictures From Home.”
The Seagull/Woodstock, NY, was performed by The New Group and had several actors I recognized from various NYC-filmed TV shows.
The New Group is a nonprofit theatre company located in New York City. Founded in 1994, the company is known for its commitment to developing and producing challenging plays and musicals. The New Group’s ensemble of actors consists of some of the most talented and respected performers in New York City. The company’s actors have been nominated for numerous awards, including Tonys, Obies, and Drama Desks. They have also appeared in major motion pictures, television series, and Broadway productions. The New Group allows its actors to explore challenging new works while giving them the platform to hone their craft and work with some of the business's most acclaimed writers and directors.
