Tabling: The Podcast

We recorded this starting at 12:30am…#tablingafterhours. In this final act of Ivanov, a much shorter act than the two previous acts, our feelings about Lvov have certainly changed since the beginning of the play. Everyone is a bit edgy at this wedding-something is not quite right. Is it Ivanov's chronic depression, or is it something else? We discovered that one of the most poignant tragedies in this act is watching Lebedev lose his vitality and buoyancy. Can someone please tell us about all the bird imagery-is it all to do with freedom? And finally, pondering Ivanov's last thoughts "Leave me alone" and "Thank you Sasha," we reflect on the decisive final action within the chaos at the end of a play. 

Let us know your thoughts about the final act of Ivanov via our website tablingpodcast.com, email - [email protected], or our Facebook page Tabling: The Podcast. 

As with most Chekhov plays, Act III is where everything goes down, and the final fourth act is the recovery act, but we discussed this climactic act at great length. Join us as we navigate through the series of fantastic one-on-one confrontations with Ivanov; Lebedev, Lvov, Sasha, Borkin & Anna/Sarah. We discuss at length the stage directions concerning Ivanov's study and what they tell us about the world of the play. We also talk about the relationship between depression and inaction. What are Lebedev's motives for offering Ivanov all that money? Why does Lvov hate Ivanov so much? What is the nature of this "active love" that Sasha talks about? And don't forget the vodka, herring, black bread, gherkins, the great modern "pause" and grappling hooks. Are you hungry? 

If you would like to learn more about these mysterious Laban movement psychology terms we keep discussing and you live in London, do yourself a favor and take a class with James Kemp at his studio. http://www.roomone.com/story/

We are officially international! This week we are delighted to be joined by a wonderful actress and dear friend of ours, Macy Nyman, hailing from London, who was visiting New York City when we were recording this episode. We were so honored that she came and joined us for an afternoon of recording as we delve into this act of chaos, life and movement. We begin to see how Ivanov and Anna/Sarah are perceived by their acquaintances and explore a series of different topics and questions. Did Anna and Ivanov marry for love? How long term illness affects a relationship, the elaborative nature of gossip, Lvov as the young shadow of Ivanov and Sasha as the young shadow of Anna, the nature of boredom in Chekhov. And what kind of kiss is the fatal kiss at the end of act 2? 

Also, Kenneth Branagh was born in 1960.

and gooseberry jam….

Hello Tablers! Join us as we delve into the complex web of Ivanov following the thread of Act I. We discuss a variety of topics including, but certainly not limited to: our initial impressions of the characters, what we know about their pasts from the text, the bewildering fact as a reader that each character has a minimum of 3 names, Russian Jewish history, class relationships, Ivanov's sex life (or lack thereof), thought in Shakespeare vs. thought in Chekhov, Ivanov as an antihero, Russia as the hybrid land between east and west, the difference between active frustration and broken defeat, status, energy, depression, isolation and owls. Also we pronounce Ivanov at least 3 different ways…choose your favorite! 

We were also joined by someone next door doing a bit of home improvement…gotta love NYC! 

Also check out different haunting owl calls 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezaBqCf0hv0

and hold onto your ears for this barn owl scream…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDmRmRb2OpE

We are very pleased to release the introduction of our very first modern classic, Anton Chekhov's Ivanov! Directed by the wonderful Emily Ota, the four of us (Nicholas Koy Santillo, Ariana Karp & Brittany Chandler,) discuss this early Chekhov work in the context of his other works, and Chekhov's place in both theatre history and Russian literature among other things. Join us next week as we delve into our Act 1 discussion! 

And thus ends the Scottish play, live the nightmare with us as we go thru Lady Macbeth's infamous sleep walking scene, and finish up our discussion on the nature of ambition and honor as Shakespeare portrays it in this final act as well as connections and parallels to the rest of his work. Below is the quote from Alan Bennett's The History Boys about the construction of the "un" words from the professor Hector. 

" 'Uncoffined' is a typical Hardy usage.  A compound adjective, formed by putting 'un-' in front of the noun. Or verb, of course. Un-kissed. Un-rejoicing. Un-confessed. un-embraced. It's a turn of phrase he has bequeathed to Larkin, who liked Hardy, apparently. He does the same. Un-spent. Un-fingermarked. And with both of them it brings a sense of not sharing, of being out of it. Whether because of diffidence or shyness, but a holding back. Not being in the swim. Can you see that?"

Food for thought!