Cabaret Chekhov
Zoo Roxy
17-23 August, 00.20
Entering the cavernous space at Zoo Roxy to hauntingly jaunty Russian music sets the scene for late night short stories, but if Cabaret Chekhov teaches us anything, it’s that the author’s tales are timeless enough to fit among any setting. Although there are eastern European accents aplenty, the company reveal the adaptability of Chekhov’s work – there’s even Welsh dialect at one point, which is a bit of a silly treat. Above all, Red Roses Theatre reveal something about Chekhov that is so often overlooked: his wonderful sense of humour.
From a creepy man in a cloak stealing people’s clothes to a hysterical scene with a woman reading her interminably long play to an exasperated author, Mark Conway, Chris Cookson, Jill Cardo and Flora Nicholson work wonderfully as an ensemble. Conway in particular thrives on the versatility demanded by the tales. Charming and funny, these short stories are well worth staying up for: the perfect theatrical nightcap.
– Miranda Fay Thomas
