Parson's Nose Theater (PNT) presents Anton Chekhov's masterpiece with their usual comedic twist in this weekend's Readers' Theater Series production of The Seagull: A Tragicomedy.
"As we know, there's no one way to play a script," says adaptor Lance Davis, Artistic Director of Parson's Nose. "The first success of The Seagull was at Stanislavski's Moscow Art Theater in 1898, and he's the guy that codified The Method, so we often emphasize, wrongly in my opinion, the somber, ponderous, tragic elements of Chekhov's work. But at this point in my life I think The Seagull is truly comic, even Chaplinesque. There's a reason Chris Durang, with whom I worked years ago, has a lot of fun with it. In my adaptation I'm hoping we can explore the bite-your-lip, laugh-stifling myopia that permeates the lives of this theater family gone wrong. The "tragedy" is in the pain it inflicts on an innocent admirer. Please join us for a new take on this classic work."
Parson's Nose Theater presents their Readers' Theater Series production of The Seagull: A Tragicomedy on Saturday, March 22nd at 7pm and Sunday, March 23rd at 3pm. Performances are at Lineage Performing Arts Center, 89 South Fair Oaks, Pasadena, CA 91105.
Running time is approximately 90 minutes including intermission. Tickets are "Pay What You Will" and may be purchased online at www.parsonsnose.com, by calling (626) 403-7667, or at the door.
"The Seagull" is sponsored in part by an Anonymous Donation, The Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the J. Mario Molina Family Foundation.
Parson's Nose Theater is a non-profit, 501(c)3 theater company located in Pasadena, CA dedicated to introducing classical theater to modern audiences. Founded in 2000 by Lance Davis and Mary Chalon Davis, Parson's Nose has introduced approximately sixty-five fun, condensed, professional presentations of thirty-two comedies to over 65,000 kids and adults. Productions are presented in a fun, commedia dell-arte style that makes them both engaging and easy to understand. Parson's Nose is the only company in America devoted to this new way of experiencing the classics.
Pictured: Marisa Chandler and Barry Gordon perform in PNT's Reader's Theater Series production of The School for Scandal.
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