From left, Cloud Adams (Sorn), Alison Loeprich (Emma), and Christian de la Torre (Con) navigate emotional fallout and absurdity as the fourth wall crumbles in “Stupid … Bird” now playing at the Yuba College Theater in Marysville. Courtesy of Yuba College Theater/ James Gilbreath

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - There’s one weekend left to catch “Stupid … Bird” at Yuba College and local theater enthusiasts should seriously consider flocking to their seats. Aaron Posner’s irreverent adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull” catapults the 19th-century source material into a world of hip-thrusting, fourth-wall-breaking, glock-popping absurdity. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea and definitely not a family-friendly outing, but it’s a thought-provoking, theatrically daring hoot. If seagulls could hoot, that is.

A New Flight Path for Chekhov

Chekhov is widely regarded as a pioneer of modern realism, his plays often steeped in internalized tension and subtext rather than overt action. In traditional productions, characters brood and unravel in silence, their true desires whispered beneath layers of polite conversation, which eventually, or occasionally bottleneck into emotional outbursts. But Posner flips this convention on its head.

In “Stupid … Bird”, the subtext is obliterated. Characters say exactly what they think and feel, often in direct address to one another or the audience. It’s like a “No Fear Shakespeare” version of Chekhov: accessible, blunt, and emotionally naked. When emotional tension starts to mount, it’s often broken by avant-garde interpretive interludes that toe the line between dance and devised theater.

This unconventional approach may alienate traditionalists or those unfamiliar with “The Seagull,”but for seasoned theatergoers or Chekhov fans, it offers humorous relief, artistic insight, and rewarding character revelations. In many ways, the play operates as both performance and acting exercise, a theatrical masterclass that dissects the bones of Chekhov’s work while spinning it into something altogether modern and meta.

Tom Loeprich as Trigorin, left, shares an intimate moment with Nina, played by Sian Compin, during a pivotal scene in Yuba College’s production of  “Stupid … Bird,” staged at the Yuba College Theater on the Marysville campus. Courtesy of Yuba College Theater/ James Gilbreath

Flying High: Strong Performances and Bold Direction

For this particular production, director James Gilbreath once again opts for a thrust stage, his apparent staging preference, placing the audience on three sides of the stage for more intimate and incorporated viewing. The set is minimalistic: a few benches, key props, and the symbolic outdoor stage, a crucial motif carried over from “The Seagull.”

Sian Compin and Christian de la Torre deliver commendable performances as Nina and Con, the show’s leading young lovers. Compin in particular gives a refreshing take on Nina, a character often played for her naivety or innocence in many Chekhovian productions. Instead, Compin fully embraces Nina’s sexuality onstage, amped by Gilbreath’s provocative blocking and Karma Matthews’ seductive costume design. This Nina is hungry, impatient, and unafraid to cross personal boundaries for fame and glory, even if she feels guilty about it. It’s an unapologetic and confident performance, charged with ambition and tension.

Tori Garcia as Dev, left, and Rasam Kaur as Mash reflect on love, longing and existential dread in a tender and comedic scene from “Stupid … Bird,” performed at Yuba College’s Performing Arts Theatre in Marysville. Courtesy of Yuba College Theater/ James Gilbreath

Her energy pairs off brilliantly with the character of Emma, played by Alison Loeprich (a reimagining of Chekhov’s Irina Arkadina). Emma is the archetypal aging actress, hardened, glamorous and relentless. She radiates power and presence, even as she clings to her relevance with white-knuckled grace. Nina and Emma serve as opposing mirrors: one desperate to rise, the other desperate to hold on. They both revolve around Trigorin, the symbolic “gatekeeper” of fame and fortune, played with subdued allure by Tom Loeprich. Trigorin is an artist who “just wants to embrace life, and enjoy all it has to offer,” and regrets nothing when he’s gone.

Tom and Alison Loeprich, real-life married couple from Placerville, are new faces to the Yuba College stage but certainly not to theater. Their dynamic is undeniable, and they are unarguably the meat and potatoes of this production. Their chemistry, timing, and presence were magnetic; they quite simply had the audience pecking out of their hand. 

Christian de la Torre, a recent graduate of Cal State Fullerton, also shines, not just for his acting chops but for his physicality and work as the show’s movement director. The interpretive interludes added texture and variance to the production, introducing a “new form” of devised theater rarely seen on local stages. While a bit jarring and unexpected at times, these movement pieces broke up the dramatic tension and dampened some of the show's darker topics, blurring the lines between realism and expressionism.

Winging in the Comedy

This play heavily leans into its meta-theatrical elements. Characters frequently break the fourth wall, posing questions directly to the audience and sometimes riffing off their responses. The cast handled these improvisational moments with impressive agility and comic timing.

The written humor is especially resonant for anyone with experience in theater. The jokes, some self-deprecating, others sharply satirical, land best with those who’ve navigated the backstage politics, egos, and existential crises of artistic life.

Alison Loeprich commands the stage as Emma, a fiery reimagining of Chekhov’s Arkadina, in “Stupid … Bird” now playing at the Yuba College Theater in Marysville. Courtesy of Yuba College Theater/ James Gilbreath

A Few Ruffled Feathers

Clocking in at about two-and-a-half hours with intermission, the show can feel slightly long in places. A few novices cast members show great potential but could benefit from stronger diction and vocal variety. Some of the interpretive movement pieces leaned toward the excessive, as did moments of overt political humor woven into the dialogue. And while minor, there were no refreshments offered during intermission.

Still, none of these elements overshadow the production’s overall quality and boldness. For serious theatergoers, acting students, or anyone curious about exploring “new forms,” as one might say, “Stupid … Bird” is a daring, dynamic piece of theater not to be missed.

Upcoming Flight Schedule

“Stupid … Bird” continues its final weekend run at Yuba College’s Performing Arts Theatre, located on the Marysville campus at 2088 North Beale Road. Evening performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on April 24, 25 and 26, with a closing matinee on Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. Admission is free, although donations are welcomed to support the college’s theater program.