ANTON CHEKHOV IS A TASTY SNACK

A small theater company with big ambitions decides to mount the best dang production of Chekhov's The Seagull that this town has ever seen. But as the rehearsal process draws on for months, art imitates life imitating art and the whole cast goes increasingly around the bend. A wildly fast-and-loose adaptation of The Seagull, Jenny Connell Davis's new comedy takes on the absurdity of making theater.

A small theater company with big ambitions decides to mount the best dang production of Chekhov's The Seagull that this town has ever seen. But as the rehearsal process draws on for months, art imitates life imitating art and the whole cast goes increasingly around the bend. A wildly fast-and-loose adaptation of The Seagull, Jenny Connell Davis's new comedy takes on the absurdity of making theater.

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ANTON CHEKHOV IS A TASTY SNACK

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: ANTON CHEKHOV IS A TASTY SNACK

    A razor sharp satire that tears apart the contemporary theatre and it's also a total love letter to Anton Chekhov. At times this play can seem silly or absurd but then a character has a monologue that takes your breath away as you listen to a diatribe on what it's like to be an artist. The female roles are so complex. All these characters want this project to work and it's such fun to see them work together on this piece. This is the kind of theatre that will create dialogue both among the artists and the audiences.

    A razor sharp satire that tears apart the contemporary theatre and it's also a total love letter to Anton Chekhov. At times this play can seem silly or absurd but then a character has a monologue that takes your breath away as you listen to a diatribe on what it's like to be an artist. The female roles are so complex. All these characters want this project to work and it's such fun to see them work together on this piece. This is the kind of theatre that will create dialogue both among the artists and the audiences.

  • KJ Sanchez: ANTON CHEKHOV IS A TASTY SNACK

    This play is a blast. Would be a super fun exorcism for anyone in theater. Funny - Davis actually makes Chekhov funny - and then suddenly deep and then the ending is absolutely gorgeous.

    This play is a blast. Would be a super fun exorcism for anyone in theater. Funny - Davis actually makes Chekhov funny - and then suddenly deep and then the ending is absolutely gorgeous.

  • Brian James Polak: ANTON CHEKHOV IS A TASTY SNACK

    I love this play. It is so funny and a rollercoaster ride, with surprising twists and turns. Who knew a playwright could make Chekhov move so briskly? I am a huge fan of Chekhov and any adaptation or deconstruction of his work. This is one of the best I've read. Wonderful work!

    I love this play. It is so funny and a rollercoaster ride, with surprising twists and turns. Who knew a playwright could make Chekhov move so briskly? I am a huge fan of Chekhov and any adaptation or deconstruction of his work. This is one of the best I've read. Wonderful work!

View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

  • Stage Manager (Natalie) / Olga
    A stage manager. Has seen it all. Twice. Somehow still loves theater.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Ingenue (Elena) / Liza Mizinova
    According to her Insta Profile: "an ethnically ambiguous small-town girl with big dreams exclamation point!" Fresh out of theater school. Focus on musical theater. Don't be fooled -- she's prepared to use every card she's been dealt to full advantage.
    Character Age
    20s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Diva (Dana) / Masha
    Started in Chicago storefront theater, still getting royalty checks for movies-of-the-week a couple of decades back, trying desperately to claw her way back into the regionals-then-NYC, or at least make her Equity weeks to pay for medical procedures she'd rather not discuss, thanks. ALSO a real-deal talent.
    Character Age
    40s+
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Director (Alex) / Stanislavsky
    A talented, ambitious actor and director, who runs a great theater company in a town where you can't make a solid living at that. Moved here for family. Makes his mortgage doing VoiceOver and film.
    Character Age
    30s-40s
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Dramaturg (John) / Anton Chekhov Himself
    An enthusiastic adjunct professor of Russian Language and Literature from the local university. Loves theater, but doesn't know a ton about it. Loves theater people, because he doesn't know a ton about them. Also...later...Anton Chekhov. Who knows a lot about people in general and theater people in particular.
    Character Age
    30s-40s
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Penfold Theater, Year 2024
  • Type Workshop, Organization Penfold Theater, Year 2023
  • Type Commission, Organization Penfold Theater, Year 2022

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Penfold Theater, Year 2025

Awards

  • Eugene O'Neill Theater Conference
    Semi-Finalist
    2024