“Chekhov’s Shorts” was performed on January 23, 24, and 25 in the LOHS Theatre. It was thrilling to see another production, this time directed by the wonderful Merry Bell-Nagy while Drama Director Randy Shorts led “Mamma Mia”, the school’s musical, with Choir Director Stevie Leyton.
This production consisted of two one acts, causing the play to run around an hour. Composed of hilarious jokes, interesting plot points, and fluid chemistry, both casts absolutely shined under the spotlight.
The Russian Comedies, “The Proposal” and “The Bear”, were expertly performed and produced by the Drama Department, and audiences were busting up every other line. The ridiculous ploys and dark humor, combined with a certain absurdity for each character, made the production memorable and hysterical.
“The Proposal” was a comedic love story, mixed with neighborly grovelling and competition and exhilarating health complications. In turn, “The Bear” was a jarring romantic comedy, shining a spotlight on gender roles, duels, and economic hurdles.
I was able to interview the cast, and had a blast peeking into their character’s personalities.
Sophomore Lauren Hall was the Assistant Director for this production, and it is clear she loved every minute of it. She especially loved “developing the character” during the rehearsal process, and thoroughly enjoyed watching each actor step into their respective roles. Hall speaks many truths when it comes to that side of theatre, since it is an absolute joy to watch a project come together with flawless quality and dedication.
Senior Savion Johnson said his character was “uptight” when asked to describe his character in one word. He played Ivan Vassilyevitch Lomov in “The Proposal” and had excellent timing and sense of character up on stage. I was definitely thrilled to see him perform again.
Freshman Amanda Lee played Natalya Stepanova, and said her character was “spoiled”, to describe her in one word. This was Lee’s debut performance at LOHS, and I was so excited to see her perform for the first time on our beautiful stage. Lee was also in “The Proposal”.
Sophomore Philip Irvine said his character, Stepan Stepanovitch Tchubukov, was “funny”, to describe him in one word. “Chekhov’s Shorts” was also Irvine’s LOHS Debut, and I was so excited to see him perform after watching him audition time and time again.
Senior Payton Duncan played Madame Popov in “The Bear”, the other short from the sequence. She said she would be “Padme Amilde” from “Star Wars” when asked if she could be any character from pop culture, who would she be. Duncan is no stranger to the stage, and it was wonderful to see her perform again, using such raw emotion and untouched talent while acting with her fellow actors.
Junior Giuseppe Galioto said he would be “Spider-Man”, and he played Smirnov in “The Bear”. Galioto expertly delivered comedic timing and twisted lines, staying true to his character throughout the entire run. It was clear Galioto has mastered the art of audience interaction, improv, and character development.
Senior Lauren Washington said she would “love to play Angelica Schuyler one day.” She also said, “I’ve always wanted this role, especially since I was a big Hamilton fan in middle school.” Washington was amazing as Luka in “The Bear”, giving a calm and motherly energy to the story, which was definitely perfect for the play.
“Chekhov’s Shorts” was one for the ages, and will definitely be remembered for years to come. Bell-Nagy’s direction of the production introduced a subtle art and poise to the drama department, and I applaud her for her efforts and work. The cast was on point with diction, comedy, and the spontaneous element of surprise.
Shorts and his tech class mastered the environment of a Russian household during the late 19 century, and their scenic design, costumes, and props tied the production together perfectly.
“The Proposal” and “The Bear” were hilarious comedies and were exemplary for the LOHS Drama Department.