Synopses & Reviews
A Methuen Student Edition of Chekhov's classic play in Michael Frayn's acclaimed translation.
When it opened in St Petersburg in 1896, The Seagull survived only five performances after a disastrous first night. Two years later it was revived by Nemirovich-Danchenko at the newly-founded Moscow Art Theatre with Stanslasky as Trigorin and was an immediate success. Checkhov's description of the play was characteristically self-mocking: "A comedy - 3F, 6M, four acts, rural scenery (a view over a lake); much talk of literature, little action, five bushels of love".
Michael Frayn's translation was commissioned by the Oxford Playhouse Company.
Anton Chekov was born in 1860 in a small town on the Sea of Azov. His plays include Ivanov, Platonov, Uncle Vanya, On the High Road, and The Proposal, among others. As he was beginning to gain international recognition as a major dramatist, he suffered two heart attacks and died in Badenweiler, Germany. When it opened in St Petersburg in 1896, The Seagull survived only five performances after a disastrous first night. Two years later it was revived by Nemirovich-Danchenko at the newly-founded Moscow Art Theatre with Stanslasky as Trigorin and was an immediate success. Checkhov's description of the play was characteristically self-mocking: "A comedy3F, 6M, four acts, rural scenery (a view over a lake); much talk of literature, little action, five bushels of love."
Michael Frayn's translation was commissioned by the Oxford Playhouse Company.
"The play has been flooded with light, like a room with the curtains drawn back."John Peter, The Sunday Times (London)
"The direct simplicity of this new translation . . . uncovers not only the nerve endings of Chekhov's restless malcontents but also their comic absurdities. It is, as he always intended, actually funny."Jack Tinker, Daily Mail
Review
"The play has been flooded with light, like a room with the curtains drawn back."— John Peter, Sunday Times
"The direct simplicity of this new translation … uncovers not only the nerve endings of Chekhov's restless malcontents but also their comic absurdities. It is, as he always intended, actually funny."—Jack Tinker, Daily Mail
Synopsis
Student edition of Chekhov’s classic, in the highly renowned translation by best-selling playwright Michael Frayn, author of Copenhagen.
All the Methuen Student Editions contain commentaries, contexts, chronologies and notes on the translations by experts in theatre studies.
Synopsis
A Methuen Student Edition of Chekhov's classic play in Michael Frayn's acclaimed translation
'The play has been flooded with light, like a room with the curtains drawn back' John Peter, Sunday Times'The direct simplicity of this new translation ... uncovers not only the nerve endings of Chekhov's restless malcontents but also their comic absurdities. It is, as he always intended, actually funny ...' Jack Tinker, Daily MailWhen it opened in St Petersburg in 1896, The Seagull survived only five performances after a disastrous first night. Two years later it was revived by Nemirovich-Danchenko at the newly-founded Moscow Art Theatre with Stanslasky as Trigorin and was an immediate success. Checkhov's description of the play was characteristically self-mocking: "A comedy - 3F, 6M, four acts, rural scenery (a view over a lake); much talk of literature, little action, five bushels of love."Michael Frayn's translation was commissioned by the Oxford Playhouse Company.
Synopsis
A Methuen Student Edition of Chekhov's classic play in Michael Frayn's acclaimed translation.
When it opened in St Petersburg in 1896, The Seagull survived only five performances after a disastrous first night. Two years later it was revived by Nemirovich-Danchenko at the newly-founded Moscow Art Theatre with Stanslasky as Trigorin and was an immediate success. Checkhov's description of the play was characteristically self-mocking: "A comedy - 3F, 6M, four acts, rural scenery (a view over a lake); much talk of literature, little action, five bushels of love".
Michael Frayn's translation was commissioned by the Oxford Playhouse Company.
Synopsis
Student edition of Chekhov's classic, in the highly renowned translation by best-selling playwright Michael Frayn, author of
Copenhagen.
All the Methuen Student Editions contain commentaries, contexts, chronologies and notes on the translations by experts in theatre studies.
About the Author
Chekhov was one of the greatest playwrights and short story writers ever born.