The Present is a new
adaptation of an untitled Chekhov play (perhaps Platonov), completion date
unknown. Adapted by Sydney’s Andrew Upton, it has been transformed and reset in
the Russia of the 1990s during the rise of the oligarchs. A Chekhov play comes
with a lot of baggage. We expect long ruminations on life, love and Mother Russia.
We expect lots of drinking, anger and betrayal.
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| Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh as Anna and Mikhail |
What Mr. Upton has added is a bit of humor
and lightness, without removing the darkness at the heart of the story. And a
kangaroo joke; after all, he is Australian.
The story is complicated, but introduced in
understandable bite sized pieces. Anna (Cate Blanchett) is celebrating her 40th
birthday at the home of her stepson. Her husband was an older general – now
deceased, and she is nearly the same age as her stepson and their group of
friends. They are all getting together for her birthday celebration. Also showing up for the celebration are Yegor
and Alexi, two older men vying for Anna’s attention and perhaps hand in
marriage (and a cut of her property).
Showing up late and nearly taking over the
celebration is Mikhail (Richard Roxburgh), the one time tutor of Anna’s stepson
Sergei and his friend Nikolai. Mikhail is a charismatic character, married to
Nikolai’s sister. He and Anna had a long since ended affair, but the chemistry
is palpable. In point of fact Mikhail’s chemistry with most of the females at
the party is strong. It is mirrored by Anna’s effect on most of the men at the
party.
And so, The
Present explores the aging and changing of both Mikhail and Anna,
particularly their response to it. By setting the scene in post-perestroika
Russia, we are also witness the partygoers react to the changing of Russia from
a Communist regime to something new and scary.
Anna and Mikhail seem competing centers of attention, with the rest of
the revelers bewitched by them. The first 3 acts occur at various points the
night of the party. We watch as the partygoers deconstruct their own lives
until they find the core of their being, or at least what a vodka soaked
version of themselves believes is their core. Secrets are revealed, affairs
occur.
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| Toby Schmitz (as Nikolai) is consoled by Anna |
In the final act, the next morning,
repercussions are played out. The ability of women to rebound compared to men
is fascinating, even if the conclusions are expected.
The acting, by all members of the cast, is
crisp and perfect. It takes a moment to adjust your brain to a play set in
Russia where everyone has an Australian accent, but you soon move past that and
are swept up in the action. The
Present is directed wonderfully by John Crowley, who makes the three
hours move by quickly.
The Present
Playwright: Andrew Upton, based on a play by Anton Chekhov
Director: John Crowley
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburgh, Anna Bamford, Andrew Buchanan, David
Donner, Eamon Farren, Maretin Jacobs, Brandon McClelland, Jacqueline McKenzie,
Marshall Napier, Susan Prior, Chris Ryan, Toby Schmitz
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