Homosexuality In Anton Chekov's The Bear

The goal of this concept is to take Anton Chekov’s, The Bear and make it more relevant to the struggles within today’s society. By changing Grigory Smirnov into a gender non-conforming woman, it therefore shifts the central conflict from Smirnov vs. Elena Popova to Popova vs. herself. While the tension between Smirnov and Popova still exists, the focus settles on the internal struggle of Popova as she begins to not only question her sexuality but who she is as an individual. Her attraction to Smirnov throws a wrench into everything she holds to be true about herself: her sexuality, her fidelity to her husband, and her sense of privilege. As gay marriage has become legalized and the rights of the LGBTQ community have come into focus, the idea of questioning one’s identity in regards to sexuality and gender is more and more common. Every person can identify with societal expectations of conformity. If something …show more content…
The role requires someone older, but not quite aged. Someone who evokes wisdom, but is also relatable to a younger audience. For the role of Elena Popova, I would cast Leighton Meester. For one, she has the most important physical characteristic: dimples, but also she has a beauty that grows on you. She has demonstrated the ability to handle the feistiness this role warrants in her role as Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl. She has the ability to play a female lead that can both frustrate you and make you fall in love with her at the same time. Finally, for Grigory Smirnov, I would cast Ruby Rose. She played a similar role in Orange is the New Black and is said to make women all around the world question their sexuality. Her ample tattoos and “bad boy” ere lend to the chauvinistic characteristic of Smirnov as well. With such emphasis on the appearance, the costumes would need to be realistic, but down played. They would be there to confirm who the characters are, but not distract from the actual show