AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

Updated October 19, 2008

Chicago Tribune

'All My Sons' falters; 'The Seagull' dazzles

New York Daily News Cultural Tourist Blog

The Seagull
One of the inevitable, painful consequences of a lifetime in theater criticism is a fear of Chekhov.

New York Journal News

Theater podcast: Review of 'The Seagull' starring Kristin Scott Thomas
Theater critic Jacques le Sourd reviews Chekhov's "The Seagull" starring Kristin Scott Thomas ("The English Patient") on this week's ...

UPDATED October 13, 2008 - 4:58PM EST

Financial Times

The Seagull, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York
Through sheer despairing intensity, Mackenzie Crook walks away with his every scene, writes Brendan Lemon

Time Out New York

Review: The Seagull
The stars come out for Chekhov’s tragicomic daisy chain of she-loves-me-nots; do they shine?

nypress

Bird is the Word
‘The Seagull’ flies on Thomas’ wings

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UPDATED October 8, 2008 - 8:19AM EST

Washington Post

On Broadway, A 'Seagull' Carried On Strong Wings
To see in succession the new Broadway revivals of "A Man for All Seasons" and "The Seagull" is to navigate between poles ...

Village Voice

Forbidden Broadway Looks deeper; The Seagull and 50 Words Look Shallow Next To It by Michael Feingold

New York Observer

The Seagull Soars, Lofted by Sarsgaard, Scott Thomas

Updated October 6, 2008 - 11:02AM EST

Talkin' Broadway

The Siegel Column
Another way to consider 13 and thoughts on The Seagull

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Additions for October 6, 2008

Philadelphia Inquirer

Chekhov's 'Seagull' takes flight

New York Magazine

Dan Kois on Equus and The Seagull

The New Yorker

John Lahr: Ian Rickson revives “The Seagull.”

Additions for October 4, 2008

amNY

Too cold for 'Seagull' to fly
We hate to rain on everyone's parade, but we didn't find the Royal Court Theatre's production of Chekhov's "The Seagull" that extraordinary....

ny1

NY1 Theater Review: "The Seagull"

nytheatre.com

Review: The Seagull

CurtainUp

Review: The Seagull
This isn't one of those see it for the star revivals; thanks to Christopher Hampton's contemporary new text and Ian Rickson's astute and finely detailed direction, this is a splendidly integrated ensemble piece

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New York Times

Thwarted Souls’ Broken Wings
Ian Rickson’s magnificent production of “The Seagull” is the finest and most fully involving production of Chekhov that I have ever known.

New York Daily News

Flock to see this new 'Seagull'
In light of the fact that two notable revivals of "The Seagull" have run in New York within the last 13 months, it's easy to consider a new Broadway version from London just a waste of feathers. Until you see it.

Newsday

The Seagull: Chekhov to cherish

New York Post

Gliding with a snort beyond time's border
Kristin Scott Thomas is an actor who doesn't act. Rather, she moves into a character, breathing the same air as a human reality. It's a style heaven-sent for the plays and people of Anton Chekhov, as she's now ...

New York Journal News

Review: Clearly, this actress knows her Chekhov
The word for the new production of "The Seagull" on Broadway is lucid. That's a trickier accomplishment than you might think. Credit goes to director Ian Rickson and his star, Kristin Scott Thomas.

Hartford Courant

A Top-Flight 'Seagull' On Broadway

Star-Ledger

There's a chill in the air around Chekhov's 'Seagull'

Bergen Record

‘Seagull’ comes alive, love remains unfulfilled

Associated Press

A revelatory 'Seagull' soars with uncommon clarity

USA Today

'Seagull' fails to take flight on Broadway

Wall Street Journal

Noisy 'Seagull,' Remarkable 'R.U.R.'
Broadway's "The Seagull" is both too big and (so to speak) too noisy. Chicago's "R.U.R." is at once horrifying, entertaining and genuinely thought-provoking.
* Video Clip: 'The Seagull'

Bloomberg.com

Scott Thomas Brings Hollywood Glamour to Broadway `Seagull': John Simon
Admirable a play as Chekhov's ``The Seagull'' is, three mountings in one year may be a bit of a surfeit, even if the latest revival, starring Kristin Scott Thomas, was a big hit in London. Several members of the British cast repeat here, with a few Americans seamlessly blending in vocally.

Variety

Review: The Seagull
The symbolic bird killed by brooding writer Konstantin in "The Seagull" returns to Ian Rickson's production in the shattering final scene, stuffed and mounted in a glass display case. But the director, adaptor Christopher Hampton and their fine ensemble have achieved a complete reversal of the taxidermist's approach, injecting startling vitality, immediacy and infinite nuance...

Back Stage

The Seagull reviewed by David Sheward
Unfortunately, Peter Sarsgaard, an American addition to the cast, seems bored by both the stunning Kristin Scott Thomas and Carey Mulligan's enchanting Nina.

TheaterMania

Peter Filichia's Diary: For the Love of Mike -- and Chekhov
I thought of Mike Salinas when I saw the impressive production of The Sea Gull at the Kerr. But then again, I always think of Mike when I see any Chekhov play.

Review: The Seagull
Kristin Scott Thomas gives a brilliantly multifaceted portrayal of the actress Arkadina in Ian Rickson's worthy revival of Chekhov's classic play.

Talkin' Broadway

Review: The Seagull
How often are squelched laugh lines a hidden blessing? There’s long been a resistance to appraising Anton Chekhov’s plays as the comedies he originally labeled them, so even the lightest-handed productions are usually accompanied with a heaping helping of dour. So at first blush it’s uncertain that any mounting of The Seagull that loses one of its comedy perennials would be able to replace it with anything more compelling. But...