To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

Chekhov and Goldilocks have something in common. Productions of the Russian Bard's plays are often too hot or too cold, and finding that delicate balance between the comic and tragic eludes even the best talents.

So I'm very happy to say that finally we have a Chekhov that's just right. The brilliant collaboration that brought this "Seagull" to Broadway gives theatre-goers a rare treat. Christopher Hampton's pitch-perfect translation sets the stage for one of, if not the most, rewarding nights of Chekhov I've ever seen.

Like a restorer of fine art, Hampton stripped away all the layers of misinterpretation from years past and everything comes into sharper focus. The characters' motivations, their impulses, their relationships suddenly make more sense.

Chekhov described "The Seagull" as a comedy which past productions often failed to bring out. This one finds plenty of humor, integrating it seamlessly into the drama.

And with Ian Rickson's insightful direction, "The Seagull" resonates like never before. He gives his superb cast ample space to spread their glorious wings. Kristin Scott Thomas, delivering a revelatory performance as the self-absorbed actress Arkadina, leads the company with a naturalism that brings this 112-year-old play into the here and now.

Scott Thomas alternates being funny, outrageous, nauseating, and loving. That she's able to synthesize so much into one role so believably is astonishing.

The play depicts the claustrophobic existence of a Russian family on the decline. Arkadina arrives for a visit to their country estate with her new lover, the successful writer Trigorin. Her son, Konstantin, is a struggling writer seeking a new art form. At play's start, Konstantin presents his latest work, a play featuring aspiring actress Nina, with whom he is in love.

Peter Sarsgaard as Trigorin is one of four Americans fluidly blended into the British cast. He brings to mind a young John Malkovich, mastering the art of single-minded callousness. Zoe Kazan stands out as the depressed Masha. But the major discovery here is Carey Mulligan's Nina. A radiant actress, she possesses a depth and maturity that registers well beyond her 23 years.

As well as I know this play, it seemed new to me the night I attended. Chekhov's great desire to reinvent the art form takes flight with this magnificent "Seagull."