Three Sisters
by Anton Chekhov
a new version by Sarah Ruhl
based on the literal translation by Elise Thoron
with Natalya Paramonova and Kristin Johnsen-Neshati
University of Iowa Mainstage (MFA thesis)
Iowa City, IA
“You say: life is beautiful.
But what if it only seems that way."
In a country house in Russia at the end of the 19th century, three sisters long to return to the Moscow of their youth. Meanwhile, their sister-in-law wages domestic war. Soldiers in a battalion stationed in town long for the sisters. And across Russia, a cataclysm is brewing. Sarah Ruhl brings fresh urgency to Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece in her lyrical translation.
overture
"My god! Why be a person? I'd rather be an ox - or a simple horse - and do something!"
"I want to work the way I want an ice cold drink in the summertime."
"Andryusha's in love!"
"What are you doing Andrusha? Reading?"
"...but it seems to me the military and civilians are equally uninteresting."
"Real laborers must sleep soundly."
"Let's drink, Andrusha! To friendship!"
"I say too much. On occasion."
"Burned down! Burned clean away! Everything."
"What do you have against me? What?"
"I'll marry him, I give my word, only let's go to Moscow!"
"I poured out a whole bottle and still they smell. Smell like a corpse."
"We'll work, we'll get rich, my dreams will come alive."
"That tree is dead, but it's still moving with the others in the wind."
"Who is talking so loud? Is it you, Andrusha? You'll wake Sophie."
"You really do look like the German."
"To know! To know!"
scenic design by Bethany Kasparek
costume design by Loyce Arthur
lighting design by Kim Fain
music by Trinton Prater and Will Yager
sound design by Ryan McElroy
intimacy choreography by Erica Vannon
photos by Miranda Meyer and Hayden Froelich
ensemble: Crystal Stewart, Liat Graf, Amy Rodriguez, Deven Vera, Luli Gomez Teruel, Elijah Jones, Ryan Martin, Kyle Watkins, Octavius Lanier, Kevin Burford, Greg Jones, Ted Buckley, Krista Neumann, Josh Sazon, Kate Anderson