Perfect introduction to the wonderful world of Chekhov

10:40am Thursday 8th March 2007

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CHEKHOV SHORTS, SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE

ANYONE with preconceived ideas that the great, 19th century Russian dramatist and short-story writer, Anton Chekhov only wrote serious dramas would have been enlightened by European Arts Company's recent visit to the arts centre.

Five carefully crafted, one-act plays filled the bill, and what a perfect introduction to the wonderful world of Chekhov, if there needed to be one.

These fast-paced comedic yet subtle pieces were totally entrancing and the audience loved them, the hard-working trio of actors receiving well-deserved warm applause at the end.

Richard Latham, Daniel Harcourt and Jennifer Bryden moved seamlessly between their very different character parts. Latham shining in particular as ageing actor Vasili in Swan Song, reluctant to shed the last vestments of his art, and portraying King Lear in his madness as completely bonkers. Jennifer Bryden in her debut production, turned farmer's daughter Natalya into quite a formidable dame in The Proposal - never has a piece of land and a dog been so amusing.

Jonny Kemp's production was a pertinent reminder that Chekhov's themes are so relevant to today's society dealing as they do with such matters as dysfunctional families, addiction, loneliness, and of course matters of the heart, and EAC's interpretation was completely accessible to anyone.

- Anne Morris