American Players Theatre Presents ANTON’S SHORTS Review — Comedic Shorts Show Bits of Life

American Players Theatre Presents Different Human Stories

We’re dropped into each one of these people’s lives at a pivotal moment for each of them. They all pop out from the turquoise and eggplant living room set and introduce themselves, each one with a Russian name at least six syllables long. 

These are brief snippets of these characters’ lives, but they each feel so distinct and well -formed that we get a full sense of who they are. We can see how much thought has been put into their characterizations by each of the actors.

David Daniel as Nikita Ivanitch blusters onto the stage, arms laden with papers, books, glasses, and a pitcher of water. He steps up to the lectern and arranges his papers. He straightens his glasses, looks up at us, takes a breath, and turns behind him to grab a drink of water. He looks at us again and we peer back expectedly. He takes another breath and another sip of water. We laugh and he returns to his post at the lectern and begins his lecture on the dangers of tobacco. 

Kelsey Brennan greets her neighbor played by Marcus Truschinski with a firm handshake after removing her worn gardening gloves and setting down her heavy gardening tools. She smiles brightly at him until he mentions the piece of land that sits between their two yards. Suddenly Truschinski is having heart palpitations and limping across the stage as his limbs go numb as the two engage in a heated argument of the land.  

James Ridge reflects on his life as an aging actor and wonders if it was all worth it. He comes stumbling out from backstage as if working off a hangover. But as he sits with another theater stowaway, he unsuspectingly slips into performance mode and we see why his character is meant for the stage. 

Tracy Michelle Arnold as the widowed Elana Ivanovna Popova, makes sure the narrator calls out her attractive features, especially her dimples. When Brian Mani enters as Grigoriy Stepanovich Smirnov demanding repayment of her late husband’s loan, primal mode seems to be activated. They circle each other and their passions rise as they argue about when the payment will come.

CAST:

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, a Young Aspiring Writer Nate Burger
Markel Ivanovich Nyukhin, a Husband & Would-Be Scholar, Not Young… David Daniel *
Sergei, a Moscow Hamlet Marcus Truschinski
Svetlana Stepanovna Chubakov, a Widowed Landowner Sarah Day
Natal’ya Semyonovna Chubakov, an Unmarried Young Woman Kelsey Brennan
Ivan Vasilevich Lomov, Their Neighbor, a Landowner Marcus Truschinski
Vasili Svietlovidoff, an Old Actor James Ridge
Nikita Ivanitch, an Aging Prompter David Daniel
Elana Ivanovna Popova, a Young Widow Tracy Michelle Arnold
Luka, a Servant James Ridge
Grigoriy Stepanovich Smirnov, a Retired Lieutenant Brian Mani

CREATIVE TEAM:

Voice & Text Coach Rosie Ward
Assistant Director Joseph Green
Costume Design Mieka van der Ploeg
Scenic Design Nathan Stuber
Lighting Design Michael A. Peterson
Sound Design & Original Music André Pluess
Assistant Costume Design Taylor Pfenning
Stage Management Assistant Jalon Payton
Stage Manager Jacqueline Singleton

WHEN:

Thru October 6, 2023

WHERE:

American Players Theatre
5950 Golf Course Road
Chicago

TICKETS:

$61+

For more information and tickets visit the American Players Theatre website.

Photos: Liz Lauren