chekhovOS /an experimental game/’ Review: Who says you can't play a video game while watching theater?

A scene from Arlekin Players Theatre “chekhovOS /an experimental game/.” (Courtesy)

Who says you can’t play a video game while watching theater? With a twist to Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, The Arlekin Players Theatre in Boston, presented a show that used gaming and a ZOOM platform to engage its audience.

I received a text on my phone prior to the show asking me to click on a link that gives information about chekhovOs along with the message: Our fate is in your hands.’

My hands? Whose fate is in my hands? And what should I do? I was familiar with narrative video games, like Last of Us and Mass Effect that create the impression that the player is making choices and is part of the story. And I enjoy the incredible feeling I get when I make a choice, even if it's not the right one.

As was the case in this show, the audience is introduced to the classic characters of Anton Chekov’s, The Cherry Orchard and the story that revolves around a Russian landowner who returns to her family estate just before it is auctioned to pay the mortgage. In chekhovOs the late 19th century, the characters are said to be trapped in the virtual world where the 21st century audience is told to help them by voting on various scenarios like choosing ‘yes or no’ to cutting down the cherry orchard.

In a talk back, Igor Golyak Artistic Director described how Chekhov’s plays embody beauty and tragedy so the biggest agency is the timer, (and) when that timer runs out.

Throughout the show Darya Denisova (Natasha Prozorov) acts as a comedic game show host; reminding the audience to keep their  cameras on and engage in the chat bar. I noticed that I could see everyone's zoom window like a grid of boxes in a screen behind Darya. The atmosphere can be compared to the game Among Us where it feels as if you are on a galactic spaceship, and Darya turns a wheel like a dial, bringing  a patron's ZOOM window into focus.  I wonder which contestant will be up next.  Contributions to the video effects made by Virtual Performance technical Director Vladimir Gusev and Game Engine and Interactive Design: Will Brierly of Snowrunner Productions. 

The Sunday night show had at least 230 participants who came together as a collective consciousness.  Patrons shared their location details and answered one another’s questions in anticipation. Who is the composer? Asked a participant. It's Jakov Jakoulov. How can I interact on my iPhone? You open a separate browser.

The chat didn’t hinder my interpretation of the show but brought it to a level that I may not have considered if it were hybrid. I was able to add to show's commentary by responding to a patron's discussion of freedom in this performance.  

Golyak talked about how this audience was composed largely of gamers who may have not otherwise considered a Chekov play and how he hopes to bring more of these same people back to the theater. One patron insisted that the most entertaining aspect of the play was the commentary.

During the talk back, a question was asked: What is the future of this hybrid theater and the trajectory? Golyak responds: This is an experiment, as we are learning. At one point we had 560 people (in the audience), although on that particular day the audience was quite insulting. (Literally giving insults towards actors in the chat) There are tools that we don’t have in person theater that we have in virtual theater. In the future, we’d like to have the virtual audience have a say in what happens to the characters, and the hybrid as well, and both audiences will know of each other’s existence.

chekhovOS /an experimental game/ - will be showing through June 26th, Final show NY & Canada - 8:00pm ET Co-presented by Cherry Orchard Festival Foundation & ShowOne Productions Followed by live talkback with members of the cast & creative team

Arlekin Players Theatre also present: AN ONLINE INTERACTIVE LIVE PERFORMANCE State vs. Natasha Banina “A CAPTIVATING THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE!” Produced by: Igor Golyak and Sara Stackhouse Past Educational Partnerships Discounted Show for Students and Educators: September 20th Boston University: September 23rd at 8:30 PM Boston Conservatory

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