Chekhov Shorts

Duddingston Kirk may be slightly further afield than some of the more central Fringe venues but the performances here presented are worth the journey. Consisting of two of Chekhov’s short compositions, The Bear and the comedic monologue Thank You for Smoking, in the marquee outside, the production is unpretentious and genuine, focusing on the actors’ abilities and the script. The intimate setting allows for a very personal performance, one that the audience feels they are directly a part of and can truly appreciate.Thank You for Smoking is the speech given by a downtrodden husband to the graduating class at his terrifying wife’s finishing school. Through the fantastic characterisation the blustery tent is transformed into a school with ease. Somehow the grumpy, depressed man becomes likeable. He leaves you wishing the scene were longer, you simply want to keep watching him. Though it may seem callous, as he details the various aspects of his wasted life the audience can’t stop laughing. The material is delivered to maximum effect, getting everything possible out of the scene.The second half of the production is one-act play The Bear, a tale of an overly enthusiastic grieving widow and a man trying to collect his debt from her. The subtle humor of the situation is brilliantly conveyed. The levels achieved between grieving widow and anger that borders on insanity heighten the comedy. Whilst the script may occasionally seem slightly ridiculous, the emotion is so authentically conveyed it is all entirely believable. The actors play off of one another creating the chemistry that makes this production so enjoyable.