Tchekov At the House of Special Purpose

La Mama presents Tchekov at The House of Special Purpose
Written by R. Johns and Directed by Alex Menglet

"The audience is frequently dragged back and forth between light-hearted antics, thrills of a Romeo and Juliet style romance with the realities of war and riotous revolution…" - InReview 8.5 out of 10

The Reds once the powerless now the powerful. The Whites once absolute rulers now the powerless. The former Tsar and his family are imprisoned by the Bolsheviks in a provincial house where the Romanov girls perform Chekhov to pass the time under house arrest. Running from 28 August to 8 September at La Mama Courthouse, Tchekov at The House of Special Purpose written by AWGIE nominee Rosemary Johns and Directed by Green Room Award Winner Alex Menglet, poses what may have happened in this last house—of existential chaos, youth versus age, hope versus paranoia, and love versus fear.

Based on the story of the Romanov girls in Ekaterinburg, "Tchekov at The House of Special Purpose" is an exciting and experimental project. It advances Chekhov’s theatrical form, into the Russian revolution exploring love, belief and family values in a time of war and chaos, asking the question what makes us human? The zeitgeist of the 21st century is civil war and violence happening around the world. A cast of 12 culturally and linguistically diverse actors tell a Russian story as seen through a 21st Century Australian eyes, exploring the resonances of that story and what it means to us.

Set in a claustrophobic room full of travelling cases with a family seemingly in trans the production includes live music, silent movie and dance. Produced in partnership with the La Mama Learning Program, the play is on the 2019 VCE Theatre Studies Playlist and will be performed for schools during the season.

Director Alex Menglet, himself from an esteemed Russian theatrical family says, “We explore broad humanity in the play not statements of power, victory or broad ideology. The play's strength lies in its questions not in didactic answers. We are interested in the vibration of the human heart, not the politics of who was right or wrong in that time. We are interested in the humanity of the characters and that despite what fate awaits each, their willingness to fall in love, put on a play, and celebrate life! It is an ode to youth, love and beauty."

Writer R. John says,” I feel that young people have much to learn in the contradictory emotions the play raises, more about equality and inequality than right or wrong, more about family ties, love, loyalties and experiences than political beliefs. Many students are interested in "her-stories” of the past and I feel this play will evoke much empathy for the Romanov girls, and ask audiences to consider that the issues the play examines, emotional, social and familial are never black and white".

Writer: R.Johns
Director: Alex Menglet
Cast: Jim Daly, Gregory. J. Fryer, Anita Torrance, Adam May, Phil Roberts, Joanna Halliday, Huw Jennings, Roxana Paun Trifan , Maria Paula Afanador, Meg McKibbin, Natalia Rozpara and Kandice Joy.
Production Design: Peter Mumford
Lighting Designer: Shane Grant
Sound Designer: Zac Kazepis
Stage Management: Julian Adams