Word: estabrooks
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...play revolves around the tribulations of Konstantin Treplev (Mark Rylance), son of the notorious actress Arkadina (Christine Estabrook). At the beginning of The Seagull, Konstantin's experimental play meets with laughs; he spends most of the first act alienating its star, his beloved Nina (Stephanie Roth). Nina proceeds to fall in love with Arkadina's lover, Trigorin (Mark Metcalf), a noted writer of whom Konstantin is bitterly jealous...
Rylance does play Konstantin with enough moodiness for several Hamlets but, unfortunate for an otherwise well-acted production, neither he nor Estabrook are able to rise above shallow interpretations of their pivotal roles...
While Arkadina is supposed to be narcissistic and constantly self-dramatizing, Estabrook seems to have abandoned any inner life the character might have. A shell composed of gestures and laughter, Chekhov's Arkadina does have some moments of genuine anguish, most notably when she begs Trigorin to stay...
That the audience is able to view this scene with almost complete detachment proves how astray Estabrook's interpretation has gone. When the part requires it, she is magnificently flamboyant, but the director seems to have paid less attention to Arkadina's dramatic moments...
Christine Estabrook accurately represents Gertrude's struggle between caring for her son and enjoying marital happiness. Alvin Epstein is a perfectly sanctimonious Polonius. Unfortunately, the weakest cast member, Steven Skybell, plays the important role of Horatio-Skybell is too nerdy and bland to be convincing as Hamlet's sole confidant...