Enemies
by Anton Chekhov
Cast and Crew
Page to Stage: Theatrical
Readings
Directed by Rena Polley
Cast Stewart Arnott, Brenda Robins, David Storch
Considered one of Chekhov’s most poignant stories, Enemies portrays two very different characters in their moments of grief.
In the quiet hours of the evening, tragedy befalls the town doctor Kirilov. As he grapples with his pain, a stranger appears at his doorstep urgently pleading him to help save his dying wife.
Chekhov explores themes of loss, grief and grievances in Enemies. He crafts a nuanced portrait of the human experience while skillfully injecting humour in the most unexpected places.
Audience Comments
on past readings …
“I forgot how much I love Chekhov’s story and how funny they are. Such vivid characters and you could not have chosen a better trio to embody the wit, humour and banality of them.”
“The three performers were fabulous and I loved the easy way that the piece flowed from a reading to a performance seamlessly.”
“It was effortlessly told, in such a delightful way. I felt like a kid being read a beautiful story.”
“It was magical. That room was completely transformed. I was so taken away.”
“What a beautiful and tender reading last night. Full of some kind of large generous sense of humour and pathos. I was hanging on every word.”
“I really like the page to stage format. I feel more connected to the actors, and even with simple stage actions, the images were vivid and complete.”
“It was "only" a staged reading but demonstrated how moving and pleasurable a small production with no special lights or effects can be.”
“My heart filled with happiness close up to the actors, laughing behind my mask, clapping my hands enthusiastically at the end with tears in my eyes. A good production really is therapeutic to the soul. Thanks so much”
“I wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed the reading ... and more, it was in a medium I have never quite seen before, half acting and half narrative; done with a light touch, understating the acting when the narrative was strong, but succeeding through your acting to bring parts of the narrative to life. At the end, though, it still felt like a story rather than a play, and we got to hear Chekhov’s voice directly. I was struck that the characters, could have been in any of his plays; but the way you presented it, we also got to hear some of the wit and irony of the narrator, which lifted it up, beyond reading or enacting.”
"I enjoyed the performances very much. My only wish is that the Chekhov Collective could present more of these perfect gems in the very style and enthusiasm as I have seen this and your prior wonderful productions. I will attend all your performances, to be sure."
"I am a member of small Russian speaking “theatre lovers” group on Facebook; we like to share information regarding theatre events in Toronto, discuss the performances, meet sometimes or read plays together. The Grasshopper was a really enjoyable experience and it is not only my opinion, but also the other members of the group agreed that the project was done with a great love to Chekhov and his talent: ‘Like it, it was done with humour and love to Chekhov’. I like the format of “reading”: with minimum decorations and costumes, every character and his/her emotions were clearly presented by the talented actors."
"Excellent show; the story was beautifully brought to life. We thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to your next production”
“It was so well done! Just brilliant!”