2010 has been a fruitful year for ACSian Theatre, in which, a wide range of theatre forms were explored.
From the postcolonial adaptation of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' to the heavily stylized 'Dorimu Shoko Jotai'
and most recently, the surrealistic adaption of Anton Chekhov's 'Three Sisters'; this year has indeed challenged
the studens' versatility as performers.
The Surrealistic portrayal of the play encapsulated the hopes and dreams of
going to Moscow as well as the bitterness towards the current life they lead. The performance follows
the lives of the Prozoroff sisters, Olga, Masha and Irina, upon the arrival of a military brigade, which
brings life and happiness to the otherwise boring and dull town where they reside, as well as their
brother Andrei, who eventually marries Natasha, whom the sisters heartily disapprove of.
Their dreams and hopes start strong, with Olga running the household and Andrei having great
potential of becoming a professor in Moscow and the entry of Natasha into the family through her
marriage with Andrei. Love develops between Masha and Vershinin, despite Masha being married to the
self-absorbed Kulygin. Baron Tusenbach confesses his love to Irina which she accepts but does not
reciprocate.
Their dreams however, collapse as Natasha takes over the household, a fire which engulfs the
town as well as the transfer of the military brigade, the eventual death of Tusenbach at the hands of the
jealous Solyony and the departure of Roday and Fedotik, which extinguishes the remnants of liveliness
within the town.
ACSian Theatre’s use of Russian inspired dances as well as text allowed audiences to truly
experience the love, hatred, sorrow and joy within the play, and immerse themselves fully within the
performance. Truly, this unique take on the century-old Russian masterpiece showed that the emotions
and dreams of the past can still move modern day audiences.
