Around 1984, Austin Pendelton directed a THREE SISTERS for Steppenwolf. Famously, Barbara Harris had been announced for Olga and then did not play it. Joan Allen was Masha, Molly Regan was Olga, Rondi Reed was Natasha, and Kevin Anderson was Solyony. So....this was not Steppenwolf’s first Chekhov, although it may have been their second.
Memorable? Solyony’s private scene with Irina was nearly violent, jarring, and exciting. Olga’s dispensing supplies to those distressed by the fire was very take-charge. There was, perhaps intentionally, not much heat between Masha and her paramour Vershinin, who was cast more like a father-figure than I was used to.
Rondi Reed was quite good and quite well cast.
My expectation about Joan Allen’s Masha was left unfulfilled because she seemed so emotionally timid. |
