Anton Chekhov's masterpiece "The Seagull" to be read at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Anton Chekhov's masterpiece "The Seagull" to be read at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts kicks off a series of live theater readings from great Russian playwrights with Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull" on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Professional actors will read the time-honored play in the intimate Wien Experimental Theatre.

"The Seagull" is quintessential Chekhov and his earliest success as a playwright. It centers on Konstantin, a young writer who hopes to shatter the staid world of the theater with something fresh and experimental. He gathers a group of friends and family at his country estate for the first performance and the results are both comic and tragic and always insightful.

"If ÔThe Seagull' makes us look at unsettling questions in ourselves, we also find solace that we're not alone grappling for answers," says Frank van Putten, of Redding Ridge, who will direct the Quick Center reading. "Actors and directors time and again enjoy the luxury of revisiting Chekhov's people, like discovering lost friends."

Several accomplished actors will be reading "The Seagull." Stan Lachow, a New York City resident, has appeared on stage, film and television. His Broadway credits include "The Sisters Rosenswieg" and "On Golden Pond," and he has appeared in the films "Anima," "The Luckiest Man on Earth" and "The Gig." Television viewers may recognize him from his many appearances on "Law & Order."

Bethel resident Sarah Saltus has appeared on Broadway, under the direction of Dustin Hoffman and off-Broadway with the Circle Rep, American Place Theatre and the Phoenix Rep. She has appeared locally at the Long Wharf Theatre, The Boston Post Road Stage Co., Stamford Theatre Works and the Westport Country Playhouse. Her credits include several movies-of-the-week, 250 television commercials and parts on daytime television's "Loving" and "Another World."

John O'Hern, of Westport, created the role of Fred McMullen in the off-Broadway play "Out" and had a successful six-week off-Broadway run with his one-man show, "A Rooster in the Henhouse." He has appeared in regional theater as Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" and Jim in "The Glass Menagerie."

Bridgeport resident Miles Marek is the producing director of the Fairfield Theatre Company and has appeared in television's "Law & Order," "The Equalizer," 'All My Children" and "Another World." He was featured in Ang Lee's acclaimed film "The Ice Storm" and is a familiar face in regional theater.

"The Seagull" is the first of three readings of Russian playwrights during the Quick Center's spring season. On Thursday, March 18, the Quick Center will present Ivan Turgenyev's "Fortune's Fool," followed by "The Inspector General" by Nikolai Gogol on Thursday, April 15. Tickets are $7 for a single performance, $15 for all three. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. For more information, visit the website, www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 01-21-2004 10:01 AM

Volume: 36 Number: 163