The Sea-Gull Play Analysis

At first when I stopped to watch The Queensland Theatre Company’s performance of “The Sea-gull” by Anton Chekov, I was deeply disturbed by the confronting scenes. However, once I was left to my own contemplation on the certain themes addressed in the script I began to marvel at how extraordinary the dramatic meaning and additionally the genre of Australian realism (laced with Breachtian) was used to communicate such intense feelings. Themes such as alcoholism and the absence of affection were raised as issues through the tension of relationships and the conflicts that are easily connected by previous experiences or stereotypes. Thus, a variety of Dramatic Languages and Elements of Drama were used to create a highly thorough performance. …show more content…
Not only does it reflect the Australian culture of “tough love” but it also challenges and confronts our thoughts through the main roles and relationships in the play. From the very beginning we are shown a couple of dysfunctional families, which captures our attention. Every family knows dis-functionality at some point, which is what establishes the first initial connection with the play. However, we soon realize that the relationships have an absence of true affection, even though the dramatic action of each relationship is to be loved. For Example, Constantine wishes to be loved by his mother, Nina wishes to be loved by the world, Pauline wishes to be loved by Eugene and Masha wishes to be loved by Constantine and so on. Tension is created when we see conflicts and the goals of the characters failing. These particular relationships are extremely important in Chekov’s The Sea-gull as they carry a majority of dramatic tension and meaning. Without tension there is no drama, there fore without these relationships the play will lose its meaning. The Queensland Theatre Company should be appraised for the use of focus on these relationships and for directing and intensifying the tension between the relationships through to curtain …show more content…
Unfortunately, according to Simon Santow at ABC News, Alcohol kills 15 Australians each day and is one of the main causes of conflicts in families and relationships. By exemplifying this particular cultural fact in the seagull, the draw on the horrible feelings that are often related to news articles and previous experiences related to alcohol. Particularly through the outstanding performance of the character of Masha who seemingly numbs all her feelings through alcohol, she seeks to destroy all chances of the life she wants, and example of this is in Act 3 “Oh, if you knew what it is to love without hope for years and years, to wait for ever for something that will never come! I shall not marry for love, but marriage will at least be a change, and will bring new cares to deaden the memories of the past. Shall we have another drink?”. Additionally, the live character is portrayed as a stereotypical Australian woman who looks at alcohol to escape any feelings that could be associated with heartbreak. Her body movement is careless but confident which is paired with a harsh, Australian voice. Especially seen in the first scene, we see her half naked and with Simon. Instantly this shines a negative light on Masha. Addressing the theme of Alcoholism back to the relationships involved in The Sea-gull, Masha’s addiction to alcohol grows to serve as a major problem faced for her child and

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