Misdirected love is at the heart of Anton Chekov’s “The Seagull,” opening Friday at the Marion Art Center.

“The thing about this whole play, everybody is in love with somebody else who doesn’t love them – that’s what’s fascinating,” said Director Rex McGraw.

McGraw retired to the area after a career directing at universities such as Ohio State, the University of Nebraska, and Ohio University. He has directed “The Seagull” three times as well as Chekov’s other seminal works.

“My whole career has revolved around Chekov,” he said. “He’s the best playwright in the world.”

The 12 person cast includes a number of plots – the relationship between a mother and son, a love quadrangle, and the search for artistic genius.

“[Chekov’s] characters are so human, and he mixes the serious with the comic, which is true in life,” said McGraw. “And it has so many good roles for actors. There’s

no such thing as a small role in Chekov.” The classic Russian play, set in the late 19th century, has a new translation from Curt Columbus, artistic director of Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence, as well as a new convert in Jay Ryan, who plays the

womanizing Dr. Dorn. “I had negative connotations of it. Now,

I’m seeing it for the comedy it is,” said Ryan.

Ryan has participated in a number of plays at the center, all light comedies.

And while “The Seagull” has tragic elements, he said, “Of all the roles I’ve played, I think this is the most fun. It allowed me to figure out who the character was. Plus he’s close to my own age.”

“The Seagull” will open on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m, Sunday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m, Friday, and Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available at www. marionartcenter.org/buytickets or by calling 508-748-1266. Guests are invited to bring their own refreshments. Tickets are $12.50 for members and $15 for the general public.

The center is located at 80 Pleasant St.