C4 theater reviewfrom C1
ly elastic company, Cheek by Jowl, has produced this version in concert with the Chekhov International Theatre Festival, enters into a deeply satisfying collaboration with his Slavic en- semble. In the best interpreta- tions, “Three Sisters” is an ach- ing experience, funny at times but also profoundly moving, as it becomes ever clearer for the characters that the more pas- sionately they seek, the less they’ll receive.
An audience feels for their re- silience, their vows to commit themselves to work, their refus- als to give up. Donnellan’s stag- ing aids in our viewing them in the clearest light. His set and costume designer, Nick Orme- rod, employs only the sparsest of visual elements: several large panels depicting houses or trees; a stack of dining room chairs and assorted small tables; a dollhouse-size model of a home, perhaps evoking the fam- ily’s country estate, or the sis- ters’ memories of a happier childhood. The play’s intense personalities loom especially large in this landscape, whether the portrait is of the spaniel-like devotedness of Masha’s husband Kulygin (Sergey Lanbamin) or the blossoming tyranny of An- drey’s wife Natasha (Ekaterina Sibiryakova). At the nexus are the sisters, steady Olga (Evgenia Dmitrie- va), disconsolate Masha (Anna Khalilulina) and vibrant Irina. As they moan and fuss and flut- ter, you’re drawn into an authen- tic-seeming symbiosis: When they dissolve in laughter on the floor together, giggling at the impertinent airs put on by their country bumpkin of a sister-in- law, the sensation is of three women falling into a familiar and comfortable pattern. That their contempt in this moment is laced with a perceptible dread — Natasha is taking charge of the house in a way none of them is able — speaks to the degree of psychological specificity
in
which the actresses invest their portrayals. “Three Sisters” examines both
a socioeconomic and metaphori- cal state of being: idleness. The
S
KLMNO Chekhov’s ‘Three Sisters’ shines in brief stop
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010
Russian wins Chopin Piano Competition
by Monika Scislowska
warsaw — Ajury of the world’s leading pianists awarded theCho- pin Piano Competition to Russian Yulianna Avdeeva, the first wom- an to win the prestigious classical music competition in 45 years. Avdeeva, 25, was selected by
TRACY A. WOODWARD/THE WASHINGTON POST TWO OF THREE SISTERS: Irina (left), played by Nelli Uvarova, and Masha, played by Anna Khalilulina, open the Chekhov play.
This staging exudes immediacy, the idea that these neurotic, excitable people from another place and time breathe the same oxygen as you.
play unfolds over several years in the well-to-do household of the sisters and their brother Andrey (Alexey Dadonov), in which the question of what to do with one’s time — some characters have jobs; others boast they’ve never held one — seems to be as much a phil- osophical issue as a practical one. What’s changing is the erosion of the youthful sense of life stretch- ing in front of them forever. An-
drey, for instance, once thought of as professorial material, has set- tled for a bureaucratic job in a small town off the beaten track. In their orbit in this paralyzed domain are other psychically fro- zen people, most notably the mili- tary doctor, Chebutykin (Igor Ya- sulovich), a drunk so vacant he no longer empathizes with those in his care. Yasulovich gives the best account I’ve ever heard of the dis-
turbing speech in which Chebu- tykin confesses to feeling noth- ing after the accidental death of a patient. “If only I didn’t exist,” he declares — not out of guilt, it seems, so much as the abject meaninglessness of his life. Donnellan’s actors apply to scene after scene a crystalline clarity; you can feel the excruci- ating pull of opposing instincts. Khalilulina’s exquisitely played Masha is a case in point. At last stealing an embrace with the man she loves, the utopian ro- mantic Vershinin (a terrific Al- exander Feklistov), she drops in- stantly, shockingly to the floor. Lanbamin’s simpering Kulygin is there to scoop her up, and her docility suggests that she con- signs herself to the unsatisfying dimensions of her fate.
The cumulative emotional ef-
fect has its payoff in the last mo- ments of the play, in the sisters’ strangely consoling faith that what they’ve gone through has a purpose. “One day people will know the reason for all this suf- fering,” one of them says — an af- firmation that in this ensemble’s revelatory treatment proves heartbreaking.
marksp@washpost.com Three Sisters
by Anton Chekhov. Directed by Declan Donnellan; lighting, Judith Greenwood; music, Sergey Chekryzhov. With
Andrey Kuzichev. Closed Wednesday at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
the jury for the gold medal and $41,500. Winning the title opens the doors to the best concert halls around the globe and deals with recording companies. “I’m very excited — it is difficult to describe in words, but I’m very, very happy to be here,” said Av- deeva, adding that she had been working toward this her “whole life.” Avdeeva said she was so taken by the music, she had no time to think of the competition, which involves three grueling weeks of performing the works of Poland’s beloved 19th-century composer, Frederic Chopin. “Chopin’s music is so very spe- cial, I was enjoying every per- formance because I was not thinking about the competition, but was thinking about the music only,” Avdeeva said of the compe- tition, which culminates in con- certs of the 10 finalists perform- ing with an orchestra. Held once every five years, the contest is known for its tough judging — in 1990 and 1995, none of the contestants was deemed good enough to win. Martha Argerich, a past winner and member of the jury, said the panel was impressed by the searching quality in Avdeeva’s performance. “She’s a very harmonious artist.
She’s always searching for some kind of truth,” Argerich said. “I am extremely happy about Yu- lianna, and particularly because she is the first woman after 45 years. After me there was no lady, so I am very happy — double — for this.” The runner-up prizes were shared between Ingolf Wunder, a 25-year-old Austrian, and Moscow-born Lithuanian Lukas Geniusas, 20. Third prize went to Daniil Trifonov, 19, of Russia. —Associated Press
Welcome home! B THEATRE
ONE DAY SALE on select tickets to the entire 2010/11 season!
ARENA STAGE HOMECOMING GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
Saturday, October 23 • 11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Celebrate Arena Stage’s return to Southwest D.C. and the opening of the Mead Center for American Theater with a day of FREE performances by Broadway and Tony Award-winning stars, conversations with prominent Arena Stage artists, presentations by local arts groups and more. Also, get a first look at the inaugural production in the Mead Center, Oklahoma!
OKLAHOMA! SNEAK PREVIEWS IN THE FICHANDLER – ALL DAY
CONCERT PERFORMANCES IN THE KREEGER
12:15 p.m. E. Faye Butler 1:15 p.m. Brad Oscar 2:15 p.m. Kate Baldwin 3:15 p.m. Matt Bogart 4:15 p.m. Alice Ripley
READINGS & CONVERSATIONS IN THE KOGOD CRADLE
12:30 p.m. Karen Zacarías and Katori Hall
1:30 p.m. Anna Deavere Smith 2:30 p.m. Amy Freed with Peter Marks
3:30 p.m. Marcus Gardley and members of the every tongue confess cast
4:30 p.m. Charles Randolph-Wright
Tickets to the above events are now fully reserved. Additional tickets will be available on-site on October 23 starting at 10:00 AM.
The Studio Theatre
Non-ticketed free events throughout the day include: Marva Hicks, The Manzari Brothers, Tina Fabrique, Stephen Wade (Banjo Dancing), Show Choir Spectacular, Synetic Theater, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, The Universes, Blue Sky Puppets and more!
See the complete schedule at
www.arenastage.org 1101 6th St, SW, Washington, DC 20024 • 202-488-3300
EXTENDEDAGAIN! MUST CLOSE OCT 31
“Class act!” —TheWashington Post Tonight at 8:00pm
Waterfront - SEU
CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION
directed by David Muse by Annie Baker
The Studio 2ndStage EXTENDED! MUST CLOSE OCT 31 “No-holds-barred!” —TheWash Post Tonight at 8:30pm
SONGS OFTHE DRAGONS A531 3x10.5_B
directed by Natsu Onoda Power
studiotheatre.org • 202-332-3300
FLYINGTO HEAVEN byYoung Jean Lee
ON-SITE B THEATRE Tonight at 8:00 AMERIVILLE “Exuberant…insightful”– NewYorkTimes
Written, created&performed by UNIVERSES
Powerful storytelling with jazz, Gospel, hip-hop & blues
Thru Nov. 7 $10 & $15 tix for age 30 & under
TKTS/INFO: 240-644-1100
roundhousetheatre.org n 4545 East-West Hwy. x
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS AT 7:30 PM Ronald Reagan Bldg, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave,NW
INFO: 202-312-1555 Chekhov
International Theatre Festival
Performed in Russian w/ English surtitles
Twelfth Night TOMORROW&
SATURDAYAT 7:30 P.M. Eisenhower Theater Tickets from $22
Call (202) 467-4600
kennedy-center.org
B CONCERTS American University presents
THE ART OF SOUND,THE SOUND OFART:AREYOU BLUE 2?
Award-winning musician Jerzy Sapieyevski combines his expressive piano virtuosity with the harmony of colors and rhythms in this multimedia experience
FRI.,OCTOBER 29AT 8 P.M.
Katzen Arts Center – Abramson Family Recital Halle Tix/info: 202-885-ARTS
american.edu/auarts
Performing Arts Center Montgomery College
Robert E. Parilla GUESTARTIST SERIES EMERSON,LAKE&PALMER
PALMER BAND CELEBRATES THE MUSIC OF
October 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25, $23
TKTS/INFO: 240-567-5301
M-F, 10AM-6PM,VISA/MC/DISC/AMEX 51 Mannakee Street Rockville,MD 20850
www.montgomerycollege.edu/PAC
Home delivery is convenient.
1-800-753-POST SF THE CARL
Home delivery makes good sense.
1-800-753-POST SF B Tickets available through TicketMaster at
(202) 397-SEAT
www.ticketmaster.com Group Sales: 202-312-1427
n Tues– Fri at 8, Sat at6&9,Sun at3&7 x Student Rush TicketsAvailable
TKTS:202-467-4600 / GROUPS: 202-416-8400
www.kennedy-center.org/shearmadness
B COMEDY B B B
ROUND HOUSE THEATRE Bethesda
“Shrieks of laughter night after night.” -TheWashington Post
B B CONCERTS
Washington District of Columbia
Jewish Community Center
MARY WILSON
OFTHE SUPREMES
AnArts Benefit One-Night Only!
Mon.,Nov. 1 at 7:30pm 1529 16th StreetNW
Info (202) 777-3262 Tickets at:
washingtondcjcc.org/mccabenefit DANCE
MANASSAS BALLET THEATRE
Ballet Theatre Orchestra in with the Manassas KARENINA ANNA Sat., October 23 at 7:30pm
Sun., October 24 at 3pm Hylton Performing Arts Center INFO: 703-2571811
www.manassasballet.org info@manassasballet.org
Tickets.com: 888-945-2468
Sunday in Arts. deadline:Wed., 12 noon Monday in Style. deadline: Friday, 12 noon Tuesday in Style. deadline: Mon., 12 noon
The Guide to the Lively Arts appears
Wednesday in Style. deadline:Tues., 12 noon Thursday in Style. deadline:Wed., 12 noon Friday inWeekend. deadline:Tues., 12 noon Saturday in Style. deadline: Friday, 12 noon
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