The focus of Chekhov’s plays are always his very human, colourful characters and how they face the often harsh winds of change that blow though their lives.
The hallmark of Eamon Flack’s impressive adaptation and production was the vivid portrayals of these characters by an excellent cast. It was an engrossing two hours spending time in their company.
In the lead, Ewen Leslie cut a fiery, intense figure as the very troubled Nikolai Ivanov. As a young, ambitious, highly intelligent, bookish man Nikolai had great plans for his life. Now he has struck middle-age, he’s broke, his wife is ill and he has no idea where to turn. Leslie plays him as a Hamlet like forever thinking out loud, on the edge of a precipice.
A very different person is Nikolai’s zany, mirthful cousin, Borkin, played with great comic flair by Fayssal Bazzi, who provided much of the show’s lighter moments.
Zahra Newman gives a touching portrayal as Nikolai’s ailing, neglected wife, Anna.
In his first appearance at Belvoir for many a year John Bell gives a quirky, comic performance as Nikolai’s buffoonish maternal uncle Count Matthew Shabelsky who has a soft spot for Anna.
Blazey Best plays young widow and estate owner Babakinan who has a tempestuous relationship with the Count.
Yalin Ozucelik was a strong presence as Nikolai’s nemesis, Eugene Lvov, a local Doctor who spends the whole play trying to get Nikolai to face up and account for his actions.
John Howard was a delight as Nikolai’s good friend and neighbour, the henpecked Paul Lebedev. Howard impeccably delivers one of the play’s funniest, darkest lines, ‘I sit…I sit…I die.’
Helen Thomson delivers a well judged comic performance as Paul’s ditsy wife, Zinaida.
Airlie Dodds gives a well measured performance as their twenty something daughter Sasha who is besotted with Nikolai and he has eyes for her too!
Mel Dyer plays a local caterer.
The leading creatives- set designer Michael Hankin, costume designer Mel Page, lighting designer Verity Hampson and composer Steve Toulmin combine well to vividly create this typically Chekhovian world.
Recommended, Eamon Flack’s production of IVANOV is playing upstairs at Belvoir Street theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills until Sunday 1st November. Performance times are Tuesdays at 6.30pm, Wednesdays to Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 5pm. Bookings- 96993444 and http://www.belvoir.com.au.
CAST:-
Borkin- Fayssal Bazzi, Shabelsky- John Bell, Babakina- Blazey Best, Sasha- Airlie Dodds, Gabriella- Mel Dyer, Lebedev- John Howard, Ivanov- Ewen Leslie, Anna- Zahra Newman, Lvov- Yalin Ozucelik, Zinaida- Helen Thomson
CREATIVES:-
Adaptor- Eamon Flack, Director- Eamon Flack, Set Designer- Michael Hankin, Costume Designer- Mel Page, Associate Costume Designer- Alicia Clements, Lighting Designer- Verity Hampson, Composer and Sound Designer- Steve Toulmin.