The Seagull (Student Editions) - Softcover

Chekhov, Anton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0413771008 ISBN 13: 9780413771001

Publisher: Methuen Drama, 2009

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.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Anton Chekhov's The Seagull is considered one of his most haunting and atmospheric character studies. A would-be playwright is at war with his egoistic mother while the town has become intoxicated by a sensational author. And as the alluring newcomer steals away Kosta's only love, their new romance could have devastating consequences.

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring:

Calista Flockhart as Irina Nikolayevna Arkadina

T.R. Knight as Konstantin Treplev

Stephen Collins as Yevgeny Dorn

Gordon Clapp as Ilya Shamrayev

Logan Fahey as Semyon Medvedenko

Cindy Katz as Polina Andreyevna

Dakin Matthews as Pyotr Sorin

Bess Rous as Masha

Josh Stamberg as Boris Alexeyevich Trigorin

Kira Sternbach as Nina

Directed by Rosalind Ayres. Translated by Christopher Hampton. Recorded by L.A. Theatre Works before a live audience at the James Bridges Theater, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in September 2012.

From the Back Cover:

A group of friends and relations gather at a country estate to see the first performance of an experimental play, written and staged by the young man of the house, Konstantin. Among the audience are Konstantin's mother, the actress Arkadina, and her lover, the famous novelist Trigorin. Their glamorous presence not only disrupts the performance but soon takes on a more profound significance for the lives of all those present. The Seagull has always been a favourite among Chekhov's plays. It was in fact his first success - and the first success for Stanislavski, who directed and acted in it - though the first ever production of the play had been a disaster.

About this edition

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0413771008
• ISBN 13: 9780413771001
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192