In an intimate theatre space in Sydney's Inner West, Victor Kalka's contemporary adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters proves that some stories truly are timeless. This new version, performed at the 100-seat Flight Path Theatre, strips away any historical distance while preserving the core of Chekhov's commentary on dreams unrealised.
As audiences enter the space, they encounter the three sisters already inhabiting their world. This immediately sets the tone for a production that seamlessly weaves contemporary touches into the classical narrative. References to doom-scrolling, online music playlists, and text messages sit naturally alongside the sisters' eternal yearning for Moscow, the big city, their imagined paradise.
The production includes modern musical choices as punctuation, each with a purpose either in their title or lyrics, underscoring the sisters' emotional journey. From Aretha Franklin's Sisters to The Animals' We Gotta Get Out of This Place, each selection reinforces the characters' desires and frustrations. The inclusion of Wham's Last Christmas injects a level of humour, while Simon & Garfunkel's Homeward Bound is a pleasantly nostalgic way to open the second act.
Kalka's adaptation, condensing the original four acts into two, maintains remarkable narrative clarity. The first half sparkles with humour, hope and happiness, highlighted by delightfully Australian touches – a Breville coffee maker as a gift, a supermarket birthday cake in its plastic container. These details ground the production in a recognisable reality while emphasising the universal nature of the sisters' dreams.
The ensemble cast delivers uniformly strong performances, there's not one poorly cast character, with the three sisters (played by Meg Bennetts, Nicola Denton, and Sarah Greenwood) capturing both the bonds of sisterhood and their individual struggles with unfulfilled potential. As the story progresses into its more serious second act, the weight of time's passage becomes palpable. The sisters' growing despair about unreached life goals and souring relationships resonate particularly strongly in our age of constant comparison and digital connection.
The technical elements support the production beautifully, with Jasmin Borsovszky's lighting design and Patrick Howard's sound work creating an environment that feels both intimate and expansive. The set's careful construction and finishes demonstrate attention to detail that complements the entire production.
What's particularly impressive about this adaptation is its accessibility – newcomers to Chekhov will find the story as compelling as those familiar with the original. The production's success lies in its ability to honour the source material while speaking directly to contemporary audiences. When characters check their phones or skip through Spotify tracks, these actions feel natural rather than forced attempts at modernisation.
This Three Sisters is a reminder that great stories can transcend their original written context while maintaining their emotional truth. In reducing the historic distance between audience and performers, the production brings us closer to the universal heart of Chekhov's work – the recognition that life rarely matches our dreams, and yet we keep dreaming anyway.
Virginia Plain in association with Flight Path Theatre presents
THREE SISTERS by Anton Chekhov in a new version by Victor Kalka
Featuring:
Matthew Abotomey, Meg Bennetts, Alex Bryant-Smith, Nicola Denton, Barry French, Sarah Greenwood, Jessie Lancaster, Alice Livingstone, Ciaran O’Riordan, Mason Phoumirath, and Joseph Tanti
Producer and Director: Victor Kalka
Assistant Director: Talia Benatar
Lighting Designer: Jasmin Borsovszky
Sound Designer: Patrick Howard
Until: Saturday, February 15, 2025
Flight Path Theatre: Hut 9b, 142 Addison RoadMarrickville, NSW, 2204
Bookings: https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/three-sisters
Approx running time: 120 Minutes, including intermission
Reviewed from Row 5 (back row)
(Images: Samuel Webster. Full cast pic: That Show Blog)
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