by Jaclyn Backhaus after Anton Chekhov directed by John Kurzynowski
Masha finds herself being pursued by three men: the boring one she married too early in life, the depressed one she spent her youth unrequitedly pining for, and the dashing model of perfection she meets far too late. She struggles to take action to remedy her past mistakes and choose the path that holds the key to her future. Will she ever break this cycle of stasis and sadness?
Anton Chekhov, famous for his use of subtext and samovars, gave the modern world a new form of theatrical expression through such monumental works as The Seagull and Three Sisters. Drawing upon such similarities as unrequited love, a relentless yearning to escape to Moscow, and a central character named Masha, Theater Reconstruction Ensemble has created an elaborate experiment of truly Russian proportions. A MASHA-up unlike any seen before! In combining these two extraordinary plays into one, TRE company member Jaclyn Backhaus and artistic director John Kurzynowski seek to explore the foundation of modern theatrics by forcing twenty-four of Chekhov’s most exciting characters into one world. And with twenty-four actors inhabiting the depths of New York’s iconic HERE Arts Center, this is one Chekhovian experiment that’s not to be missed!