Purists have argued for decades over the translation of Chekhov's tragic play, but director Chris Chambers has set this Seagull free of all that, with an amusing and sometimes cheeky 21st century adaptation that does it no harm in its Cornish seaside setting.
Anyone interested in the great works of Chekhov will be familiar with the story of a family, friends and lovers, who were thrown together 120 years ago, one destined for greatness, some for inevitable heartbreak, and one for a very sad end indeed.
Surprisingly, Chekhov described the original as a comedy among other things, and in this modern "soap opera" take on the original, Cambridge graduate Chris Chambers simplifies the whole thing - Simon loves Stella, Stella loves Kit, Kit loves Nina, Nina loves Boris - and he loves both Irina and Nina.
There's plenty to work with there and he reckons there's fun and farce to be had among the tears and tragedy, with a whoopee cushion, arrangements for lunch at The Ivy, mobile phones and Kindle books all playing their part.
It was a bold step to bring this play to The Minack, because there is so little action, and so much depends on smart conversation, things left unsaid, and the passions, the mood, jealousies and frustrations of the characters, which can easily be overwhelmed by the elements.
In fact on Monday, a 'first day of summer' gale and driving rain forced the first main season cancellation. Luckily I saw it coming and sat in on the dress rehearsal a day earlier.
The two act play is set in the garden and drawing room of the Cornish seaside home of Peter Trevannion (yes, they changed the surname) with another get together there, two years later.
During rehearsals the professional theatre company practised projecting their voices upwards to meet the demands of the steep cliff side slope of the seating at The Minack.
The commitment and emotional depths of the well cast actors, working with a brilliantly written script, was both enthralling and moving.
Dan Avery as the wild-eyed aspiring writer Kit, who can't face the fact that he is clever "but no Tom Stoppard" is also desperate for the love of wannabee actress Nina, played quite beautifully by Jennie Fox, who is swept off her feet by the successful BAFTA award winning playwright Boris (Gregory A Smith).
But can he shake off established actress Irina (Carmen Rodriguez) and will the intense and tearful Stella (Clare Juliette) settle for a family life with steady but predictable Simon (Andrew Mulquin) "a teachers salary is nothing", when she yearns for Kit?
Uncle Peter (Robert Rowe) the owner of the Trevannion estate, tries to make sense of it all, along with amiable GP Eugene (Stephen Ashmore-Blakely) who quotes Sea Fever when emotions are running high, which is most of the time.
The imaginative set is cleverly designed once again by Minack regular Jill 'Wiggy' Wilson and the costumes, chosen by Elizabeth Callow, are spot on. And there is a great choice of songs and music ranging from Moonlight Sonata to Doris Day and The Beatles.
This is a Seagull that has truly found its freedom in the 21st century.
Anyone interested in the great works of Chekhov will be familiar with the story of a family, friends and lovers, who were thrown together 120 years ago, one destined for greatness, some for inevitable heartbreak, and one for a very sad end indeed.
Surprisingly, Chekhov described the original as a comedy among other things, and in this modern "soap opera" take on the original, Cambridge graduate Chris Chambers simplifies the whole thing - Simon loves Stella, Stella loves Kit, Kit loves Nina, Nina loves Boris - and he loves both Irina and Nina.
There's plenty to work with there and he reckons there's fun and farce to be had among the tears and tragedy, with a whoopee cushion, arrangements for lunch at The Ivy, mobile phones and Kindle books all playing their part.
It was a bold step to bring this play to The Minack, because there is so little action, and so much depends on smart conversation, things left unsaid, and the passions, the mood, jealousies and frustrations of the characters, which can easily be overwhelmed by the elements.
In fact on Monday, a 'first day of summer' gale and driving rain forced the first main season cancellation. Luckily I saw it coming and sat in on the dress rehearsal a day earlier.
The two act play is set in the garden and drawing room of the Cornish seaside home of Peter Trevannion (yes, they changed the surname) with another get together there, two years later.
During rehearsals the professional theatre company practised projecting their voices upwards to meet the demands of the steep cliff side slope of the seating at The Minack.
The commitment and emotional depths of the well cast actors, working with a brilliantly written script, was both enthralling and moving.
Dan Avery as the wild-eyed aspiring writer Kit, who can't face the fact that he is clever "but no Tom Stoppard" is also desperate for the love of wannabee actress Nina, played quite beautifully by Jennie Fox, who is swept off her feet by the successful BAFTA award winning playwright Boris (Gregory A Smith).
But can he shake off established actress Irina (Carmen Rodriguez) and will the intense and tearful Stella (Clare Juliette) settle for a family life with steady but predictable Simon (Andrew Mulquin) "a teachers salary is nothing", when she yearns for Kit?
Uncle Peter (Robert Rowe) the owner of the Trevannion estate, tries to make sense of it all, along with amiable GP Eugene (Stephen Ashmore-Blakely) who quotes Sea Fever when emotions are running high, which is most of the time.
The imaginative set is cleverly designed once again by Minack regular Jill 'Wiggy' Wilson and the costumes, chosen by Elizabeth Callow, are spot on. And there is a great choice of songs and music ranging from Moonlight Sonata to Doris Day and The Beatles.
This is a Seagull that has truly found its freedom in the 21st century.
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