The Seagull

By Aston ChekhovSet Designer

Jacqueline GanzonGroup 59

Overall Production of the play

• The overall set design will reflect the period of the late 1800s in Russia

•The play will provide a realistic scenery throughout the entire play, portraying reality of a provincial Russian estate and farm

•The Seagull would be best portrayed on a Proscenium Stage, separating the scenery and performers from the audience by a “window” or the proscenium arch.

Act I• A stage within a stage

– Make-shift homemade stage standing in an outdoor setting of the provincial Russian estate and farm where Treplev lives, owned by his Uncle Sorin.

– This serves as Treplev’s set for his amateur theatricals he writes.

– This will be the the focal point on stage during the majority of Act I

– Benches will be facing the stage within the stage

Act I

• A lakefront backdrop– will serve as a natural scenery behind the stage– This lake plays a significant role throughout entire

play– The lake represents Treplev’s desire to move to a

more naturalistic theatre as a playwright

Act I

• Trees, bushes and fresh flowers– The Sea-gull starts off on a

summer day during sunset. – This will surround the terrace,

representing the time of the year that the play takes place • In the first scene, Treplev picks

a flower and pulls off its feathers saying “She love me, she loves me not” in reference to Nina.

Act I

This set of directions was written by the original director Stanislavsky to accompany the Act I conversation between Treplev and Sorin written in Russian

Act II• Act II takes place outdoors in from

of the Sorin estate.– Little change of set from Act I to Act

II• Focal point changes from the stage to

the bench (The stage moves off stage)– It is noon and the day is hot

• A bench– Should be the center of the act

where Dorn, Masha and Arkadina sit by the river gathered to read a book.

– The backdrop remains the lakefront in the depths of the park.

Since the play is in the Russian province, a rustic bench made of wood would be appropriate

Act III

• Dining room of Sorin’s house– Doors are to the right and left

of the stage– A table is at the center of the

room– Inside is a country-like feel– Furniture is handcarved made

from stained rustic wood– Walls surround the entire

stage with windows showing the backdrop of the lakefront

Act IV

• A room in Sorin’s house– Serves as a writing

room for Treplev– Furniture of a

normal sitting room– Shelves of books

against the walls

Act IV

• Writing desk on the right hand corner of the room– dimly lighted room lit

by a shaded lamp on the desk

– Papers are are crumbled and scattered on the desk and room, showing the stress of the character Treplev

A dim lamp that would be on Treplev’s writing desk

scattered papers portraying the stress and organization of Treplev in his writing room

Act IV

• Weather– It is night time, and it is

stormy and windy – Audience will be able to

see and hear the storm by the windows with the tree branches hitting them

– setting the tone, foreshadowing upcoming events.

Sources

• http://web.mmlc.northwestern.edu/~mdenner/Drama/plays/Seagull/2seagull.html