CJSF volunteer, Kate Lerman, reviews the Presentation House theatre Company’s production of Anton Chekhov’s The Three Sisters.

I like to think of myself as a professional amateur theatre-lover. With that in mind, I headed over to the Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver to see their production of Anton Chekhov’s “The Three Sisters”, directed by Brenda Leadlay.

The classic play is called one of the most important in Russian literature. It centres on the Prozorov family. The three sisters, and their brother, grew up in Moscow, but are now living in a small town. As years go by, the sisters and those around them dream about going to Moscow.

The interaction of the three sisters is the highlight of the play, showcasing three promising actresses, all whom will be graduating from Capilano College this spring. Dick Pugh is another standout who makes the aging, hard-of-hearing door-keeper Ferapont a person, not just comic relief. The play’s individual performances are solid, but as a whole, melodrama seems to take over The Three Sister’s more emotional moments.

On the technical side, lighting, sound, and costumes all fit well with the story. The set design is immediately striking, a simple and rich evocation of the period. The birch trees painted in a window hint at both dialogue from the play, and the setting.

Overall, I recommend “The Three Sisters” for an enjoyable, almost introductory, glimpse at Chekhov’s story of a family worn down by their own dreams and surroundings.

“The Three Sisters” is showing at the Presentation House Theatre until March the 1st. For more info, go to www.phtheatre.org.