What a beautiful scene. Layers of cool blonde timber in the furniture, the trees and the backdrop of a manor house where a shutter opens briefly, shedding a square of golden light. It is evening. Crickets chirp and shadows play on the dark indigo of the lake beyond. We are perfectly transported to a summer evening in rural Russia, where the air is close and Konstantin Gavrilovich Treplyov (Owen Black) is about to see his first play come to life on stage. It’s a makeshift outdoor stage and the audience is a small gathering of locals, but to Konstantin, this moment is everything; his mother is watching.

His passport may read ‘shopkeeper class from Kiev’, but his mother is Irina Nikolayevna Arkadina (Rima Te Wiata), a highly successful actress in popular theatre. Konstantin is well aware that his mother is having difficulty with the idea of passing on the mantle of artistic success to a younger generation – “When I’m not there she’s 32. When I’m there, she’s 42.” – but his deep need for her approval keeps him trying to win it, however vulnerable it makes him.

Chekhov is a master of capturing the minutiae of family life, with all its beauty and its drama. Perceived by some as heavy and dark, Chekhov in fact regarded himself as a comic writer even when his stories had tragedy at their core. This Tom Stoppard translation has a lightness and compassionate warmth that lets us laugh tenderly (perhaps recognising something of ourselves in our weaker moments) at the desperate actions humans resort to in the very attempt to preserve their dignity – even to the point of inflicting cruelty on others.

A hugely talented cast breathes real life into this superb story. Visually exquisite, with gorgeous lighting and an evocative soundtrack capturing the landscape that was so integral to Chekhov, this is a highly polished production of one of the great theatrical works. Whether you’ve had the pleasure of encountering Chekhov before or not, The Seagull is a must-see this month at The Court Theatre.

The season runs until 12 June 2010.
For bookings, phone 03 963 0870 or visit www.courttheatre.org.nz.