Marin Theatre Company Extends THE SEAGULL Through 2/27

Marin Theatre Company announces today that, due to extraordinary ticket demand, it will extend Seagull by one week. Bay area audiences now have the opportunity to experience the world premiere of Libby Appel's new version of this iconic masterpiece through Sunday, February 27.
 
"Who knew Chekhov could be so sexy?" wrote San Francisco Chronicle theater critic Rob Hurwitt, who also called the production "engrossing" and "a revelation." "[Libby] Appel's adaptation feels contemporary without straining and allows some of the emotional subtext to brim over into passionate language," wrote Theater Dogs blogger Chad Jones. On KGO AM 810, Jerry Friedman raved, "A marvelous ensemble cast of 13 talented actors presents a lively, most enjoyable production."
 
Commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), this new version of Anton Chekhov's first play is adapted by Appel, the former Artistic Director of OSF, from a literal translation by Allison Horsley. The script includes variants deleted from Chekov's original manuscripts that have never before been performed. MTC Artistic Director Jasson Minadakis directs.
 
"When I read Libby's version," says Minadakis. "I was immediately struck by the boldness of her choices with the language - it was passionate, earthy and desperate. The hearts of the characters I knew so well were thrillingly new." Christine Albright, the actress playing the role of Nina, agrees, "I think of [this version of Seagull] as very American and timeless... The thing that strikes me about Libby's adaptation is how lean it is. There's a poetry that comes from being able to say more with fewer words and she achieves that."

Playwright Libby Appel was Artistic Director of OSF, where she directed 27 productions, from 1995-2007. OSF has commissioned her to write new adaptations (from Allison Horsley's literal translations from Russian to English) of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, Seagull, Uncle Vanya and Three Sisters. She has directed at companies across the country, including Intiman Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre and San Jose Repertory Theatre.
 
Translator Allison Horsley is currently under commission from OSF to create new literal translations of Chekhov's major plays for adaptation by Libby Appel. She has served as dramaturg and/or literary manager for OSF and many other prominent theater companies including Denver Center Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse and Yale Repertory Theatre.
 
Director Jasson Minadakis is in his fifth season as MTC Artistic Director. In addition to Seagull this season, he directed the West Coast premiere of Happy Now? and will direct Edward Albee's Tiny Alice June 2-26.
 
The Seagull cast includes OSF company members Christine Albright as Nina and JOHN TUFTS as Konstantin, both seen in recent OSF productions of Equivocation and Romeo and Juliet. OSF alum Richard Farrell appears as Sorin. Tess Malis Kincaid, who has previously worked with Minadakis on five productions at Georgia Shakespeare and Actors Express in Atlanta, stars as Arkadina. 
 
MTC veterans in the cast include Julia Brothers as Polina, Craig Marker as Trigorin, Howard Swain as Dorn and Michael Ray Wisely as Shamrayev. New to MTC are Peter Ruocco as Medvedenko and Liz Sklar as Masha. Rounding out the cast are Carly Cioffi, Harold Pierce and Erik Rhea.