Public Theater

Theater review by Raven SnookTypically, a theater director lets the work speak for itself. But when the endearing Alexander Molochnikov stands on stage to introduce Seagull: True Story, playwright Eli Rarey's loopy expansion of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, the gesture is appropriately meta. After all, this work is effectively speaking for him: It's inspired by Molochnikov's own experiences. Seagull: True Story | Photograph: Courtesy Kir Simakov A second introduction, this one by an oily MC (Andrey Burkovskiy, in Brechtian mode), sets the scene. Wunderkind Kon (Eric Tabach, idealistic yet high-strung) is directing an outré interpretation of Chekhov's breakthrough play for the venerable Moscow Art Theatre in February 2022. But when Russia launches its invasion of Ukraine, political chaos ensues. Kon and his poet pal Anton (a zen Elan Zafir) want to speak out; others, like producer Yuri (Burkovskiy again) and Kon's mother, Olga (Zuzanna Szadkowski, oozing tough love), the celebrated actress playing Arkadina, urge everyone to pledge their support—and to tone down the production. Kon refuses to comply, and one viral social media video later, he's fleeing to New York, where he hopes to find freedom as an artist and an individual. But he soon learns that commercial theatre in America comes with oppressive demands and restrictions of its own. Seagull: True Story | Photograph: Courtesy Kir Simakov Produced by the internationally minded MART Foundation and first seen at La MaMa...