'Three Sisters' make most of Russian life in play

By: JENNIFER PAXTON

Posted: 9/21/07

"Three Sisters" encounter rivaling spouses, cheating lovers and ambitious pursuits, but they still want more.

The production "Three Sisters" opens tonight at the Athens Community Theatre.

The show will be presented by Town and Gown Players, a volunteer-run community theater company.

"THREE SISTERS"

When: 8 tonight (reception following), 8 p.m.
Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 8 p.m. Sept. 27-29 and 2 p.m. Sept. 30
Where: Athens Community Theater on Grady Avenue off Prince
Price: $18 general, $15 students, Sept. 27 show only $5
More Information: www.townandgownplayers.org

"It's basically about trying to cope with boredom, bad relationships and good relationships," director John Ginn said. "It's about trying to find hope in life and joy in what otherwise is a pretty meaningless existence."

The play focuses on sisters Olga, Masha and Irina Prozorov, played by Megan Boyd, Kelly Doyle-Mace and Katie Dotson, respectively.

The three young sisters and their brother Andrei live alone in a small, colorless Russian town, where they have lived for the past 11 years.

They cling to hopes of an exciting future in Moscow, but often end their days with the unfortunate defeat of boredom.

"They have this conversation throughout it that no matter how wonderful your life is, people will always be unsatisfied and want more," said Doyle-Mace, a senior from Marietta. "There's a struggle between the characters believing that happiness doesn't exist and that it does."

This fight for happiness is ultimately reflected in the girls' relationships with men, she said.

The girls experience ill-advised marriages as well as heated affairs with which the audience may morally struggle.

"Some of them may not be meant for each other, but they're meant for each other in that moment in time," she said. "It has a lot to do with showing that different relationships aren't something you necessarily need forever - you go through phases with people."

The play, originally written by Anton Chekhov, is classified as a drama but hints at other genres such as comedy.

"Chekhov claims it was a comedy," Doyle-Mace said. "It can be put in any context."

The cast features many actors from past Town and Gown plays as well as several newcomers.

"Three Sisters" will debut as the first main stage production of the season.