Even though Theatre UAF Director Anatoly Antohin was sick for the opening night of"Four Farces and a Funeral" Dec. 2, the cast pulled off the three plays in two and a half hours that seemed to fly by.

Theatre UAF based"Four Farces and a Funeral" on four short plays by Anton Chekhov, "The Bear," "The Proposal," "The Wedding" and "On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco," with intermittent drama derived from love letters between Chekhov and his wife played out between each play. In the beginning, the narrator explains how Chekhov felt that banality was his enemy. On Friday's opening night, some things stood out as especially not banal.

Carrie Baker, who played Chekhov's wife Olga in the more serious side of the play, was fun to watch. The costume design by Tara Maginnis was especially creative and captivating. The vibrant colors made each new scene something to look forward to.

Unfortunately, the audience did not seem quite tuned to the humor on Friday night, which led to the performance being a little more ordinary than it might have been to a more receptive audience. Many of the actors simply did not receive the positive reinforcement they deserved.

The second short play,"The Proposal" stood out. Holly Carroll played a droll young woman who anxiously awaited a wedding proposal from her suitor. She had great timing and an aura of humor that had the audience waiting to laugh at her. Joe Harris played the suitor who had many quirks and a nervous twitch to boot. Gerry Berman, a faculty member whose profile describes him as typecast in the roles of"fathers, ancients, and the homeless," played an excellent father in this play. The three characters were vivacious and entertaining.

The accents used by some of the actors in other scenes were confusing. Since the play was originally Russian, some characters adopted a Russian accent. Other actors seemed to have British accents that faded in and out, adding a little confusion.

David Fields who played the father of the bride in"The Wedding" had a good accent, as did Adam Gillette who played Harlampi, a Greek confectioner. The two demonstrated true depth and understanding of people under the influence of alcohol, as they were delightful without being overbearing and acted out a vodka-induced wedding glee.

Overall, attending the play was a worthwhile experience. It was a good way to escape the dullness that cold winter wreaks upon the artistic spirit.