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Five Plays: Ivanov, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard (Oxford World's Classics)

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Chekhov plays
Nice, but not Chekhov
Uncle Vanya the greatest play of the last century
Uncle Vanya was my personal favorite
I liked this book

Five Plays: Ivanov, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard (Oxford World's Classics)
Anton Chekhov
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0192834126

Book Description

This volume contains English translations of: Ivanov, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard, with a new Introduction by Ronald Hingley.

Customer Reviews:

Chekhov plays.......2007-04-11

Plays in general have a tendency to be overly-dramatic. Thus the name "drama". Chekhov definitely used this drama aspect to enhance his plays. He succeeded with some, making them dramatic, awe-inspiring, and amazing. Others? Less so.

I enjoyed reading all of these plays, and I won't deny that. Some, however, are harder to read and to understand than others. It's especially difficult to remember what character is which in each play, especially since in Ivanov, all the names are long and complex. While good plays themselves, I constantly had to flip back to the character list just to remember who that is, a problem rarely found in other plays, such as Ibsen's works.

The plays themselves are good. Each one has its own charm and interest. They're a pleasant read, but a difficult one. It's not something you can just breeze through. Reading these plays needs time and effort, which may be too much for some. If you're looking for any old Chekhov, settle for his stories, like "Ward number six", or even his short little stories. If you're looking for plays (not Shakespeare, that is), go for Ibsen. If you think you can handle this, take it on, but be warned that this is not an easy read.

Nice, but not Chekhov.......2003-03-29

This translation is a nice effort -- at rewriting the original, extremely subtle text as a modern English drama according to the tastes and limitations of the translator. If you're looking to capture the true genius of Chekhov, try another.

Uncle Vanya the greatest play of the last century.......2002-11-21

There are only two modern dramatists that are masters one is Peter Shaffer who wrote the maliciously marvelous Amadeus and the plays of Anton Chekhov the best of which is uncle vanya, the best dipiction of real life its tragedy, its joy and its drama. From the Tolstoyan Astrov, to the depressed Vanya, to the beautiful but vain Yelena. This is a play about life...all people can relate to it in some way and I think Chekhov's philosophy of life is...sublime

Uncle Vanya was my personal favorite.......2000-03-18

Anton Chekhov was a writer who was able to capture the essence of life and inter-personal relationships in his stories. His writing is simple yet powerful and emotionally affecting. Uncle Vanya deals with envy, male-female relationships, despair, and takes a look at life from a realist perspective.

I liked this book.......2000-02-23

I read Uncle Vanya for an English class at my school and I have to say I enjoyed it immensely. Chekhov is able to capture life and the daily struggle of living in a single stroke. Chekhov explores male and female love relationships, self-realization, opposite sex attraction and more. Chekhov's writing in these five plays focus mainly on dialogue and the interactions that take place between his life-like characters. Anton Chekhov has the rare ability to articulate through his story telling the essence of human existence.

The Seagull: A Comedy in Four Acts (Methuen Theatre Classics)

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The Seagull: A Comedy in Four Acts (Methuen Theatre Classics)
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
Manufacturer: Methuen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0413421406

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In Chekov this is called comedy
I'm a seagull; no, that's wrong
a masterful new translation
I would like to add that Chekov's brilliant play,
Jealousy, ambition, despair

The Seagull
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
Manufacturer: Nick Hern Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Anton Chekhov's The Seagull (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Uncle Vanya
Macbeth (Norton Critical Editions)
Othello (Norton Critical Editions)
Mother Courage and Her Children

ASIN: 1854592610

Book Description

The Seagull, a spectacular failure on its first appearance, was the play that, on its second, established Anton Chekhov as an important and revolutionary dramatist. Here, amid the weariness of life in the country, the famous actress Arkadina presides over a household riven with desperate love, with dreams of success and dread of failure. It is her son, Konstantin, who one day shoots a seagull; it is the novelist Trigorin who will one day write the story of the seagull so casually killed; but it is Nina, the seagull herself, whose life to come will rewrite the story.

This new translation of The Seagull--made by Tom Stoppard for the Peter Hall Company at the Old Vic in 1997--was produced by The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival in New York City in 2001. The volume also contains an Introduction by Stoppard that indicates some of the problems translators have faced since the first English language Seagull in 1909

Customer Reviews:

In Chekov this is called comedy.......2003-05-12

Oh tormented people. One may read `The Seagull' and wonder what's that all those things about death and killing, and failing love stories. So sad! But in Chekov's world this is a comedy, and it doesn't take too much to get why. It is indeed funny in some parts-- well, not the kind of funny we are used to, but nevertheless, it makes us laugh.

The tragicomic play is of paramount importance in modern teather. Rarely has a playwriter written such a realistic piece analyzing the life of an artist and his/her role in the society. In `The Seagull' Treplieff is a writer wanna be, who is trying to grow over the shadow of her mother --an aging actress--, and to get an actress wanna be to love him. But above all, he has to deal with feeling jelous of Trigorin a youger and successful writer. There aren't many characters, but there is so much going on, personal dilemas, that the story grows to a placeless dimension.

Chekov can write with such a confidence that for not a second you doubt the existence of these people. His words are vivid. More than 100 years later, his play is up to date dealing with issues that are universal and timeless-- that can make you either cry or laugh.

I'm a seagull; no, that's wrong.......2003-03-17

GREAT PLAY-says so much about life and love.
Character driven.
Sad, but it's Checkov
Well worth the read!

a masterful new translation.......2002-10-20

Russian plays aren't for everyone--they are dense, heavy affairs, packed full of ideas and slow moving characters. If you are looking for a fast-paced potboiler with lots of action, etc. then stay away from Chekhov. But if you enjoy reflection and having something to talk about when you finish a book then Checkhov will serve you well--and, most improtantly, if you want to read "The Seagull" this IS the translation to get--Stoppard has done a wonderful job, making this classic even more readable and enjoyable.

I would like to add that Chekov's brilliant play,.......2002-08-22

"The Seagull," is also about how the constraints of society restrict us from achieving our goals. Constantin is not appreciated by the masses for his "experiemental" writing. Masha (?) feels trapped by her social position and unwanted by Constantin thus marries a schoolteacher who she doesn't love. Although Trigorin achieved success through his mediocre novels, he feels unsatisfied by not creating "real" art and compelled to anihilate anyone who attempts to create real art, such as Constantin. It is interesting to note that Constantin is secretly envious of Trigorin for his success and Trigorin is envious of Constantin for maintaining his integrity in his art. Maybe that's why they're always at each other's throats. Just my two cents.

Jealousy, ambition, despair.......2002-02-04

The play is set on an estate in the Russian countryside, owned by the former state councillor Peter Sorin. He lives there with his nephew Konstantin Trepliev, the son of a famous actress and himself an aspiring playwright. His mother, Irina Abkadina, is a miserly and self-centered woman fascinated by her own fame and beauty. The only object of her affection is the famour writer Trigorin.

An abstract play written by Trepliev and performed by his young girlfriend Nina Zarietchnaya fails miserably, and Nina turns her attention instead to the more successful Trigorin. The young Trepliev attempts suicide, then challenges Trigorin to a duel. All his efforts are in vain, and Nina leaves for Moscow to be with her idol. Trigorin, however, soon forgets about her, and her career as an actress is even more miserable than Trepliev's career as a writer. Both youngsters thus face tragic fates as their failed ambition, jealousy, and misguided love and anger carry them to destruction.

This subtle work deals with issues such as unrequited love, jealousy, betrayal and vanity without being overly sentimental. It also addresses the spectacular effect people of charisma or celebrity can have on ordinary people, and suggests that this great power is a dangerous tool in the hands of people who are often hostages of their own reputations.

Chekhov: The Seagull (Russian Texts) (Russian Texts)

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Chekhov: The Seagull (Russian Texts) (Russian Texts)
Anton Pavlovitch Chekhov
Manufacturer: Duckworth Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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