In a politically charged, haunting meditation on theater and the revolutionary impulse, Neva tells the story of Anton Chekhov’s widow, the actress Olga Knipper, who arrives in a dimly lit rehearsal room in St. Petersburg in the winter of 1905. As Olga and two other actors await the rest of the cast, they huddle together, act out scenes from their lives and muse on their art form and love - while, unseen, striking workers are being gunned down in the streets by Tsarist regime. Calderón savagely examines the relationship between theater and historical context in this ominous and tightly crafted ensemble work that allows a palpable terror to creep through the theater walls.
What Is the Story of Neva?
Neva tells the story of Olga Knipper, an actress and the widow of famed Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. She arrives in St. Petersburg to rehearse The Cherry Orchard, meeting two other actors also await the rest of their company. As they pass the time, Knipper and the others muse on art, politics, theater and the revolution brewing right outside their door.
"... brilliant and provocative..."
Theatermania
Zachary Stewart
"...the three actors playing actors are terrifically good. Bianca Amato is captivating from the opening moments as Olga..."
The New York Times
Charles Isherwood
