‘The Real Ivanov- A Comedy About Despair’ by Anton Chekhov

By Alix Cohen

“The Real Ivanov is a faithful but streamlined adaptation…It preserves almost every line and all of the major characters.”
Adaptor & Director Laura Strausfeld

Anton Chekhov’s Ivanov centers on Nikolai Ivanov, a once-idealistic landowner deeply depressed and alienated from tubercular wife, Anna, as well as everyone around him. As debts mount and Anna’s health deteriorates, the protagonist becomes unwittingly entangled with Sasha, the besotted young daughter of his creditor.

A lively gallery of provincial characters revolves around Ivanov. These include: morally outraged doctor Lvov, Sasha’s wealthy mother Zinaida, on the make widow Marfusha Babakina, and Ivanov’s scheming neighbor Borkin, who add humor, gossip, and social pressure exposing the hypocrisies and frustrations of a world the hero is trying to escape. Guilt, despair, and inability to act finally propel him toward a devastating final choice.

Despite what I gather are adapter/director Laura Strausfeld’s attempts, this production does not emerge comedic.Earlier this year New American Ensemble’s version successfully mined the play for humor in tandem with its dark side. Comparison does this iteration no favors.

As Nicolai Ivanov, Sam Underwood starts slow but swells into the role, especially during soliloquies. That he’s possessed by debilitating gloom is so palpable, it almost physically manifests like Pig-Pen’s cloud of dust. (from Charlie Brown comics) Dealing with Sasha might reflect clearer ambivalence.

Jordon Lage (Count Shabyelsky) shows more energy and creative investment than most actors around him. His developed character exposes lack of specific choices in others’ portrayals. Sam Adegoke’s Borkin, one of the few adeptly physical embodiments, doesn’t seem sufficiently gleeful about his schemes. Spencer Aste’s depiction of Pasha Lebedev, hapless husband to Ivanov’s uncompassionate creditor, is grand; Amelia Mason is a sympathetic Sasha her mother Zinaida (Sarah Long) played without grit.

Ivory Aquino’s Anna is neither frail nor despairing and speaks as if she has a mouth full of cotton. Doctor Lvov (Elijah Guo) is a cardboard cutout with hands in his pockets. Marfusha Babakina, (Kimberlee Walker), whom the Count is pushed into marrying for money, screeches and squeals her way out of our willing attention.

Directing in the round (Laura Strausfeld) is always a challenge. We’re too aware of unmotivated movement this production. The drunk scene needs to be raucous to work. It is not. Tiny little gherkins seem ridiculously low key in context.

The reason for classic rock n’ roll as we file in escapes me as does dissonant electronic “music” between scenes Mood is first false, then breaks and updates narrative. In addition, Sound Designer Brandon Bulls manages to offer fireworks but not the squawk of an owl referred to several times.

A few innovative highlights serve well: Ivanov moving forward under a wide spotlight surrounded by those who are “at” him, as if they constitute a single organism, is resonant. The cast is lined up on a red carpet ostensibly unable to go forth as individuals creates metaphor as well as an apt aesthetic.

Ella Matza does a good job with period costuming.

Photos by Russ Rowland
Opening: Soph Metcalf, William DeMeritt, Kimberlee Walker, Sam Adegoke, Jordan Lage, Sarah Long, Sam Underwood, Spencer Aste, Amelia Mason

The Real Ivanov- A Comedy About Despair by Anton Chekhov
Adapted and Directed by Laura Strausford
Lynn F. Angelson Theater 136 East 13th Street
Through September 19, 2026