As the term was coming to a close here at the Ohio University graduate in acting program, a group of us decided it would be a good weekend to make a little road trip to Cincinnati, and not just any road trip. We had tickets to Sarah Ruhl's version of Chekhov's
Three Sisters as directed by John Doyle at the Tony Award winning
Cincinnati Playhouse. This production was unlike any other
Three Sisters I've seen or heard about. Upon entering the theatre we saw no birch trees, no parlor. Instead we entered a tall looming space. A crumbling room which seemed to have one point been an elegant home, at another point had been transformed into an office building, and now was lying in virtual ruins as though it had been abandoned for several years. The walls were literally decaying and broken plaster laid strewn about the set. The actors stayed onstage then entire show. When they were not part of a scene they sat and watched from the deteriorating walls of this oppressive space. Like the three sisters, Olga, Masha and Irina, who always speak of moving back to Moscow and never leave their little village, the actors talked about leaving the house but never actually did.
The performance was stunning. Particularly Laila Robins (Broadway:
Heartbreak House,
Frozen,
The Herbal Bed and
The Real Thing; Film and Television:
The Sopranos,
Sex and the City,
Law and Order,
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, etc.) as Masha. Her command of the role and specificity of action was absolutely beautiful. I was engaged by every moment of her performance. I was also particularly fond of Lynn Cohen (Broadway:
Orpheus Descending,
Ivanov (with Kevin Kline); Film and Television:
Sex and the City,
Across the Universe,
The Station Agent,
Law and Order,
The Cosby Show, etc.) as Anfisa. Her final monologue exclaiming how happy she ended up in life (Anfisa, the old maid, is the only character who finishes the play joyfully) was so charming and touching. The kind of thing that makes you want to jump out of your seat and hug her.
After the play we had dinner with another memorable actor from the production, Tony and Drama League Award winner Frank Wood (Broadway:
August: Osage County,
Side Man,
Hollywood Arms; Film and Television:
The Sopranos,
Law and Order:
Criminal Intent,
Changeling,
Dan in Real Life,
The Royal Tenebaums, etc.) who played Tuzenbach. Over dinner we discussed the production and he told us about his experience working on Sarah Ruhl's version of the play as well as having John Doyle for a director. He asked us how graduate school was going, and the whole night was fun and fascinating. Even the point where I couldn't contain myself any longer and had to geek out and tell him how much I'd loved his work in
August: Osage County.
It was wonderful to be at the
Cincinnati Playhouse for the first time, and what a powerful first production to see. I can't wait to return soon.
