day twenty something

I grew up doing summer community theatre in an amphitheater in our local park, and St. Louis is home to the nations largest outdoor amphitheater, so seeing The Seagull in Regent's Park Open Air Theater kind of reminded me of home. Outdoor theatre has its pros and cons, both from an actor and audience member's point of view. There are the obvious drawbacks, like unpredictable weather (which we almost saw last night), and, uncontrollable outside noises, but I think my least favorite thing about outdoor theatre is it's lack of formality. This isn't necessarily pertaining to productions themselves, but more with the members of the audience. Because we're seated outdoors, I think audience members feel more comfortable with getting up in the middle of a scene and going to the bathroom, or whispering loudly to their neighbor their opinion of the show. Along with the number of other distractions that could happen at any given moment outdoors - a plane going by, thunder, or a bird pooping on one of the actors on stage (it's happened in a show I was in, it's a real threat!) - it can make for disengaged audience. However, this can also be a fun challenge for the cast and creative team of a show. They know they have to make the show so engaging that they hold the audiences attention even during those inevitable outside distractions. This is something I think The Seagull did a fairly good job with.

The set, consisting of a giant mirror propped above the stage, a grass floor, and a lake upstage, was enticing and interactive. It allowed the audience to see absolutely everything, even things the other characters on stage didn't. It also felt very natural, it didn't seem intrusive or out of place at all. The effect could really only be achieved in the outdoor space. If they did the same set in a classic proscenium, I think it would feel very mechanical and like-a-set. But, because it was surrounded by the trees and flowers of the park, it looked like it belonged there. Another great thing about the outdoor theatre experience is that it can sometimes be a little immersive. For example, when it started to rain onstage, it started to drizzle on the audience as well, allowing the audience to feel like we were in the house with them.

Ultimately, the only thing I remember not liking about seeing The Seagull outdoors was sometimes it was a little difficult to hear. Despite this, I thought the outdoor space allowed the production to be innovative and fresh while still staying true to Chekhov's story.