Russian production plays on emotions

"When I was younger and read Chekhov's works, I felt that these stories had nothing to do with me. They were dull and boring. After all, during our teenage years, we tend to think that real life should be more intense and dramatic than what we see onstage," says actress Kristina Babushkina, who plays the role of Irina Arkadina.

"As I've got older and revisited Chekhov's work, I realized how deeply I connect with it now. You start noticing the subtleties that you never paid attention to before. They hit you right in the soul," she says. "You find yourself rereading and watching adaptations of his plays and films. Suddenly, you feel a sharp sting. Those words strike you with precision. That's when you realize the true tragedy of life, which Chekhov captured perfectly.

"I understand my role. But can I justify her actions? That might be a bit too much to ask. Still, as our teacher always says, an actor must defend their character no matter how terrible their actions are, no matter how difficult they are to understand," Babushkina adds. "The character I play sees herself as ordinary, but she's a soul that can never truly be ordinary. She longs endlessly for love, but at the same time, she is trapped in the abyss of her own misfortune. I believe this story transcends generations and time. It resonates universally."