Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Books

The first complete American translation of Chekhov's ten vaudevilles. The comedic one-act farces The Bear, The Proposal, On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco, The Night Before the Trial, On the High Road, The Wedding, The Anniversary, A Tragic Role, and Tatyana Repina. These are jewels for the stage -- ready to use for actors and directors, and for students of drama who wish to enrich their appreciation of the virtuosity and complexity of this great Russian playwright. Chekhov wrote these confections early in his career, before he tuned to his serious plays. All ten have been newly (and faithfully) translated and assembled in a unique collection here, to make them fresh and accessible for contemporary actors and audiences. An introduction is included for literary historical perspective, as well as a glossary and pronunciation guide for the actor's usage.

Published to tie in with the world premiere at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin In Chekhov's tragi-comedy - perhaps his most popular play - the Gayev family is torn by powerful forces, forces rooted deep in history and in the society around them. Their estate is hopelessly in debt: urged to cut down their beautiful cherry orchard and sell the land for holiday cottages, they struggle to act decisively. Tom Murphy's fine vernacular version allows us to re-imagine the events of the play in the last days of Anglo-Irish colonialism. It gives this great play vivid new life within our own history and social consciousness.