How would you perform the role of Chebutykin in Act I and Act III of Three Sisters?

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How would you perform the role of Chebutykin in Act I and Act III of Three Sisters?

I would play Chebutykin as an old, wise, father like figure who loves the sisters, especially Irina as if they were his own children.  Also, I would want to create comedy and pathos for my audience and would do this in the following way.

In Act I, I would like to especially bring out the comic and caring values of the character.  Chebutykin’s witty, blunt comments, and his nonsensical philosophising creates a friendly, humorous character, which the audience warms to immediately.    

Chebutykin is old, as in Act I, Chebutykin says, “I am nearly sixty – a lonely, useless old man.”  When entering for the first time in Act I, Chebutykin reads a newspaper.  While doing this, I would squint my eyes and hold the newspaper a distance away from me as if trying to focus.  This would show deterioration in his eyesight.  I would also walk slowly and slightly hunched.  When he fetches the Samovar, I would walk extremely slowly, and have difficulty carrying the present.  When speaking, I would stutter slightly, and sometimes slow down as if to remember what I was saying.  Another habit of Chebutykin is combing his beard.  (Page six stage directions).  This would become a common habit, demonstrating his wise, knowledgeable nature.

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Chebutykin has no children of his own (P8 “My dears, my loves, you’re all I have”), so he gives his love to the sisters (“ you’re all that’s most precious to me in the world…there’s no good in me at all except this love I have for you”).  This caring side would be shown through eyes and actions.  I would look at the girls as if they were my children, with love.  I would also show this by being so excited when giving Irina the expensive gift.  I would hobble out of the room with a spring in my ...

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