Man in a Case, reviewed by Catie Wildman

The play Man in a Case was adapted from two well-known short stories by Anton Chekhov, Man In a Case, and About Love. These stories were adapted by Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar, who also directed the play. Man In a Case was produced by Baryshnikov Productions. Man In a Case was shown at the Hartford Stage in Connecticut. In this play, an introverted strict man gets swept away by an outgoing woman. At one point she humiliated him, which crushed the trust that had been built up over time and put he man back into his cage that is his comfort zone. Both the man and woman do not act on their feelings for each other, which results in a flawed relationship that leaves both victims of defective love.

The production of Man In a Case was interactive with the audience, and had an open atmosphere without a fourth wall. In the Hartford Stage, the stage itself wraps around part of the seating, placing the actors along side the viewers. The sound system acted as a connector between the production and the audience, making the viewers feel as if the wall between the actors and themselves was never there. The sound system was wired so that there were speakers all over the theatre, so that sounds came from all angles. The actress Tyberly Canale who played Barbara rode her bike over the extension of the stage that ran through the seating area. This created a sense of unity between the actors and the audience that made the production both more enjoyable and made the production more realistic. Different camera perspectives were used throughout the play, which created multiple viewpoints for the audience. Bird’s eye perspective was used to see the action from overhead, and proved to be a great addition to the production during the scene of the floor dance. Fish eye viewpoint was also used when the man waiting outside the door was being shown to those inside the house. The name of this production, Man In a Case, sounds closed off and restricted. However, this play was executed in such a way that the set and directing gives an open atmosphere, and the audience is able to feel as if they are in the play along side the actors.