The Seagull

www.visitlondon.com

            When I heard that we were going to see Chekov’s The Seagull in an open-air theatre, I didn’t know what to expect at first. As we walked through the romantic Regent’s Park and passed hundreds of multicolored roses and other beautiful gardens, I started to wonder just how this place was going to look. I pictured a small amphitheater surrounded by a large lawn where we could lay down picnic blankets and lawn chairs. However, that image disappeared from my mind once we walked up to the theatre’s entrance.

Regent's Park rose gardens
www.theguardian.com

            We stepped through the gates, and a tall, round green wall covered by ivy used as a cover for the cafes underneath was in front of us. We entered the actual theatre space, and it was the same size as a typical indoor theatre. The stage was an actual stage and not just the grass; although, there was turf placed on the stage for the first half. Two bare fake trees supported a giant mirror that reflected the stage floor, which also brought attention to the mirror’s purpose in the play. Behind the stage were beautiful foliage and a small manmade pond.

Regent Park Open Air Theatre
www.visitlondon.com

            It was pretty chilly that evening which sometimes took me out of the play because I was distracted with keeping myself warm. There were; however, a few moments where being outdoors worked as a huge advantage with scenery. During a scene transition, while the actors were setting up two huge lawn umbrellas, the sun peeked from behind the clouds and shown through the trees. The leaves became this shimmering emerald shade, and a beautiful glow came over the stage that only nature can produce. Another moment that was unintentionally enhanced by the natural surroundings was in the first half of the final act. Act four starts out on a stormy night, so, just like an indoor theatre; lighting and sound effects were used to create a storm on stage. They also used pipes to create a rain curtain at the back of the stage. This created the dimension that separated the “indoors’ from the outdoors. While this melancholy scene progressed, it started to actually mist on the audience. This really added to the effect of seemingly eavesdropping on a forbidden and intimate moment.

            Although this play was not my favorite among the many other shows we watched on this trip, the outdoor setting entranced me, and I will be looking forward to any other open-air theatre opportunities that come my way!