The BBC Anton Chekhov Collection
April 22nd 2010 15:26
Original Creative Writing:
Anton Chekhov 1860 - 1904
Link: shop.abc.net.au/
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov 1860 - 1904 was a Russian Dramatist. A Physician by profession as a student he wrote journalistic materials and then some short farcical plays. He went on to write some fine works for the theatre; some timeless in their humanity. Classic. The most quoted is probably The Seagull, often used for acting auditions. Many young actors present a speech by Nina about being an actress. It can be harsh to sit through several of them, one after the other.
In Sydney I once worked on a production of The Seagull being put on by a group of people for an anniversary of the playwright however as does happen from time to time the production was dismantled before it ever got up as they say. Pity at the time as it was shaping up to be quite a good turn by a strong cast, but something about money and a venue, or lack there of. All in all, it is safe to say the plays of Chekhov are worth going through or going to.
It is possible to sit through many of them, as well as listen to some of his short stories and radio plays. One such radio play, Wild Honey features Sir Ian McKellen in a translation by Michael Frayn, very well worth the time to listen. Perhaps even better known than The Seagull is Three Sisters, a deep harsh saga played out between three sisters. These three women are great, as is the play along with The Cherry Orchard another of Chekhov's great theatre works.
His work is so highly prized among dramatists of his time, it has been done many times by any long serving theatre company. Much of his work has appeared on study lists, and there are many films both from Russia and the rest of the world of his works.
The BBC have found him worthy many times, there are alternative versions of the same play The Cherry Orchard one recorded for television in 1962 translated by John Gielgud featuring a young Judi Dench and Ian Holm with a not so young Peggy Ashcroft, then another in 1981 featuring Judi Dench and Timothy Spall.
Young Anthony Hopkins features in Uncle Vanya and The Three Sisters. Ivanov adapted by David Hare features as a radio play. As all of this material is available now in the same package The Anton Chekhov Collection via ABC DVD. These productions from the BBC's vault are fantastic to watch, and budding actors, writers and directors will get a great deal from the material. Students of Chekhov are in for a very good scope here. Seven discs contain 14 works of great craftsmanship. So, why do people study Chekhov?
His work is a great area of naturalist theatre, and there is a vast amount of texture to be found in it. In fact it is the subtext that he is best at resounding. He realised that human communication is driven by much unspoken feeling, that actual communication doesn't specifically take place in the words uttered between people. Much is driven by what is unsaid. His influence on the subsequent development of drama has been immense. To look for a modern version I could point at Dexter, although he is quite an extreme character, and not exactly Chekhovian, I do think his tale is told in a Chekhovian way.
The Anton Chekhov Collection is available at ABC Shops and On line RRP $89.99
In Sydney I once worked on a production of The Seagull being put on by a group of people for an anniversary of the playwright however as does happen from time to time the production was dismantled before it ever got up as they say. Pity at the time as it was shaping up to be quite a good turn by a strong cast, but something about money and a venue, or lack there of. All in all, it is safe to say the plays of Chekhov are worth going through or going to.
It is possible to sit through many of them, as well as listen to some of his short stories and radio plays. One such radio play, Wild Honey features Sir Ian McKellen in a translation by Michael Frayn, very well worth the time to listen. Perhaps even better known than The Seagull is Three Sisters, a deep harsh saga played out between three sisters. These three women are great, as is the play along with The Cherry Orchard another of Chekhov's great theatre works.
The BBC have found him worthy many times, there are alternative versions of the same play The Cherry Orchard one recorded for television in 1962 translated by John Gielgud featuring a young Judi Dench and Ian Holm with a not so young Peggy Ashcroft, then another in 1981 featuring Judi Dench and Timothy Spall.
Young Anthony Hopkins features in Uncle Vanya and The Three Sisters. Ivanov adapted by David Hare features as a radio play. As all of this material is available now in the same package The Anton Chekhov Collection via ABC DVD. These productions from the BBC's vault are fantastic to watch, and budding actors, writers and directors will get a great deal from the material. Students of Chekhov are in for a very good scope here. Seven discs contain 14 works of great craftsmanship. So, why do people study Chekhov?
His work is a great area of naturalist theatre, and there is a vast amount of texture to be found in it. In fact it is the subtext that he is best at resounding. He realised that human communication is driven by much unspoken feeling, that actual communication doesn't specifically take place in the words uttered between people. Much is driven by what is unsaid. His influence on the subsequent development of drama has been immense. To look for a modern version I could point at Dexter, although he is quite an extreme character, and not exactly Chekhovian, I do think his tale is told in a Chekhovian way.
The Anton Chekhov Collection is available at ABC Shops and On line RRP $89.99
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David Jobling
