Hovey Players prepares edgy Chekhov adaptation

Hovey Players, a community theater group in Waltham, is taking the stage this month with their performance of “Stupid F#cking Bird,” a modern retelling of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” The story follows a director and an actress in their emotional journey through love, art and coming of age all while grappling with both the past and present.

Hovey Players enjoys showcasing plays that have challenging themes or those that may not have the same impact in a larger theater space.

“Hovey as an organization has the freedom to choose bold and exciting scripts like this one that can sometimes be too risky for larger theatres,” wrote Jason Myatt, who plays the role of Sorn in “Stupid F#cking Bird,” in an email.

The performance takes place in the basement of the D’Angio building at 9 Spring St., which features the 52-seat Abbott Memorial Theater. Hovey Players has been performing in this space since 1973 but have existed as a group since 1936. The theater company produces four shows a year.

“Hovey has a small, inviting space that lends itself to the audience being truly immersed in the performance, and this show takes full advantage of that,” wrote Myatt, who has been involved with Hovey Players since 1998. 

The show is directed by Demetra Tseckares, who got involved with Hovey Players six years ago and previously directed Hovey’s performance of “The Clean House.”

“Stupid F#cking Bird is a great play. It’s very funny. It’s poignant. It’s infuriating. It’s wonderful. It’s all the things that live theater performance should be. And I am incredibly lucky to have the talented cast that I have,” Tseckares said in an email. “I just like to put the best team together, and then I push, and they push, and we just have a lot of fun and bring a lot of joy to the process.”

“Stupid F#cking Bird” runs March 21 to April 5. Tickets can be bought at the Hovey Players’ online box office.