We Are Three Sisters
At Jericho Arts Centre until June 30
Tickets: 604-224-8007
unitedplayers.com
Guardian theatre critic Clare Brennan wrote on Sept. 17, 2011: The writer Blake Morrison first described this notion as bonkers when Susannah Clapp, this paper's senior theatre critic, suggested it to him 10 years ago.
This notion was to explore the lives of the Bronte sisters through the text of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. Nine years later, Barrie Rutter, the artistic director of Northern Broadsides in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, decided it would be perfect for Morrison's sixth collaboration with Broadsides.
But it does feel bonkers hearing Anne (Victoria Lyons) spouting almost the same words as Chekhovs Irena: Yes, we must just go on working... Ill go on working and working. Or Lydia Robinson (Helen Martin) in We Are Three Sisters, complaining about Tabby (Emma Middleton), the Brontes maid, in almost exactly the same derisive terms as Natasha complains of Anfisa. Theres a drunken doctor in both as well as a neer do well brother in love with a coarse, domineering woman: Natasha (vulgar but, at least, single) and Lydia (vulgar and very much already married).
And obviously, Chekhovs sisters fervent wish to get to Moscow becomes Morrisons sisters desire to get to London.
For those up on their Chekhov, its easy to get into the head game of Spot the Chekhov. And thats not a good thing; if youre playing that game, youre not fully engaged.
Nevertheless, We Are Three Sisters is an entertaining exploration of the lives of Anne, Charlotte and Emily Bronte and their brother Branwell. Its far from gloomy and suggests that, for their time, they were strong-willed, strong-minded and talented women in a period when to be a woman writer was, as their patronizing father (Sean Allan) declared, never to be published. Books cannot be the business of a womans life, he pontificated.
In the play, its Annes 25th birthday; Charlotte is not yet 30; Emily is about 28. And while they write about love, what do they know of love? (At this point, Kate and Anna McGarrigles song, Love Over and Over with its reference to Emily, Anne and Charlotte and What did they know/What could anyone know/About Love rang in my head.)
Carolyn Rapanos set is simply stated elegance, beautifully lit by Graham Ockley. Neil Griffiths sound design is an unobtrusive and lovely score for piano.
On opening night, United Players artistic director Andree Karas made a point of reminding us that everyone involved in the production is a volunteer and all but the director, Sandra Ferens, and two of the actors, Douglas Abel and Allan, are non-professionals. The quality of many of performances is far from amateur, however.
Like Chekhovs Three Sisters, its an ensemble piece but, as with the brilliant Russian play, one sister stands out. Here it is Charlotte who is effectively foregrounded by Olesia Shewchuk who conveys all of Charlottes wit and fire. MariaLuis Alvarez is Emily, the most withdrawn and secretive of the sisters while Victoria Lyons is a shy, blushing Anne, relentlessly pursued by the old doctor (Abel) as well as the flirtatious young curate (Nick Preston).
Helen Martin, in a green, off-the-shoulder gown (by costumer Elliott Squires), is the nasty Mrs. Robinson. (And heres another connection: surely playwright Morrison borrowed Mrs. Robinson from The Graduate: older woman, younger man.)
Jordon Navaratil, as heavy-drinking Branwell, comes on strong in Act 2.
The frequent echoes of Chekhov are weird but I was otherwise drawn in and the production is excellent.
As for whether Chekhov drew inspiration from Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskells 1857 biography of Charlotte Bronte (commissioned by Charlottes father), a Yorkshire theatre company might love to think so. It makes a good story: Charlotte, Emily and Anne as Chekhovs Three Sisters. We know Chekhov read Cervantes and Schopenhauer. But Gaskell?
For more reviews, go to joledingham.ca
