The Department of Theatre at Hope College will present “Seagull” by Anton Chekhov, translated by Curt Columbus, on Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13, and Thursday-Saturday, April 25-27, at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a no-admission matinee on Sunday April 14, at 2 p.m. All performances will be in the Dewitt Center main theatre.
Directed by department chair Daina Robins, “Seagull” was written by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov in 1895 and first performed in 1896. The play focuses on the artistic and romantic conflicts between the four main characters: Trigorin, a renowned writer; Treplev, an aspiring playwright; Arkadena, Treplev’s mother; and Nina, a young aspiring actress.
Chekhov originally titled his play “The Seagull: A Comedy in Four Acts.” However, due to the style and content of the play, people sometimes question how the play could be considered a comedy. “Seagull” explores the artistic temperament and methodology of writers and actors, unrequited love and existentialism.
Robins said, “Anton Chekhov is a master playwright. His ‘Seagull’ is a beautiful play which is daunting to tackle but very rewarding to explore in rehearsal. His characters are complex -- endearing, exasperating, serious, ridiculous, comical, tragic, loving, selfish. Utterly human. Just like us.”
In addition to Robins, the production team includes guest artist Caroline Spitzer as the costume designer; and faculty members Perry Landes as the lighting and sound designer, and Richard Smith as the scenic and properties designer. Staff members Paul Anderson and Darlene Veenstra served as technical director and costume shop manager. Also on the production team are several students; junior Emmie Sandstedt of Lake Zurich, Illinois, is the stage manager; and senior Trevor Wilson of Adrian, freshman Zandra Paxton of Quincy and freshman Caroline Dargay of Clarkston are the assistant stage managers. Junior Gracen Barth of Dallas, Texas, is the production manager.
The cast includes senior Megan Clark of Clymer, New York; junior Maxwell Lam of Holland; freshman Zach Pickle of Schoolcraft; senior Katrina Dykstra of Walker; freshman Sam Joachim of Dearborn; freshman Sarah Wisser of Kalamazoo; freshman Sofia Munoz of Elmwood, Illinois; senior Jose Angulo of San Francisco, California; senior Jonny Loker of Oaxaca, Mexico; sophomore Riley Wilson of North Canton, Ohio; and senior Cameron Islami of White Lake.
Due to the mature themes of the production, “Seagull” is not recommended for children.
Tickets for the evening performances are $10 for regular admission; $7 for senior citizens and Hope faculty and staff; and free for Hope College students and students ages 18 and under. Tickets are available at the Events and Conferences Office located in downtown Holland in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 616-395-7890. Tickets may be purchased by calling or visiting the ticket office, online at hope.edu/tickets, or in person at the performance. No tickets are required for the Sunday, April 14, matinee.
The DeWitt Center is located at 141 E 12th St., facing Columbia Avenue between 10th and 13th streets. The main theatre is located on the main level of the building.