Flawless cast in a complex work

I guess the real story of Notre Dame de Namur University’s production of "The Three Sisters” is how far this small theater department in this small university, under the direction of Professor Michael B. Elkins, chair of the Theatre Arts Department, has come in recent years.

Drawing from current students, alumni and community theater people, it gathered a flawless cast for this very complex and difficult classical play and came up with a bell ringer. Actually, it is cut down and performed in an adaptation by famed modern playwright David Mamet, making it more palatable in length. Movie moguls used to call it "the seat of the pants test” for the modern audiences.

With more characters on stage than the cost of professional productions could endure today, the play carries a number of cross themes and relationships: The boredom of a decaying upper class in a small provincial town in rural Russia at the turn of the 20th century, a search for meaning in a modern world, numerous infidelities, pessimism and unhappiness in the somber and wintry Russian mode and dreams deferred and lost.

The dreams of the three Prozoroff sisters, Olga (junior Margaret Gorrell), Irena (senior Morgan Lewis) and Masha (graduate Laura Hill) are to return to Moscow from whence they had been removed some 11 years prior to a garrison town of only 100,000 by their military father. Now, with his death, the control of the family finances and home had fallen into the hands of a rather weak brother Andrei (freshman Arnaldo Vivanco) who gambled away most of their fortune, mortgaged the house and married a ruthless Natalya (junior Danielle Vivion) of a lower economic class. Return to Moscow had become symbolic of their hopes but, in many ways, the dreams of all four became self-defeated, with failures in work and marriage.

All of these roles are being performed with a maturity far beyond what one would expect from their years, as is that of senior Anthony Andrade Jr., as Vasily, a junior officer in the garrison. He is among the other officers who frequent the Prozoroff parlor and dining table and is rejected by Irina. Senior Mandy Omoregie is the long-serving and aging Anfisa. Alumnus Adam Ellison is Vershinin, another officer and amateur philosopher, who had known the family in Moscow and began a love affair with the married Masha.

Masha’s dream has already been compromised after she had married the stuffy, pretentious but warmhearted schoolteacher Kulygin (another great characterization by the versatile community actor George Metropulos). Veteran actor Jeff Young may have his best role ever as Chebutykin, the brigade doctor, who had previously had an unrequited love for their mother.

Another veteran performer is Richard Newton as the Baron Tuzenbach who loves Irina and quits the army to go to work to impress her.

IF YOU GO:

‘The Three Sisters’

A 1901 PLAY BY: Anton Chekhov

ADAPTED BY: David Mamet

PERFORMED BY: Notre Dame de Namur University Theatre

WHERE: NDNU Theatre, 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 23

TICKETS: $10

CONTACT: 650-508-3456 (box office), email boxoffice@ndnu, or www.ndnu.edu

Support roles are by freshmen Jazmyne Holly, Terry Kitagawa, Mark Aho and Trisha Robateau.

The direction in this stage traffic heavy production by Michael Elkins is well paced and taut. The set by R. Dutch Fritz is inspired with a projection of exteriors cast upon a huge screen in the background. The furniture is authentic for the period as is the costuming by Barbara Kassel and hair and wig designs by Jenny Earlywine.

What else could one ask for in such a powerful classical play presented with such a talented cast at such a very reasonable price?