The Seagull (Methuen Drama)
by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
published
April 25th 2002
(first published 1895)
by A&C Black
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binding
Paperback, 90 pages
isbn
0413771008
(isbn13: 9780413771001)
description
Regarded as the definitive version, complimented by full notes, commentary and a chronology of Chekhov'slife and work. Essential for all drama student...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 575)
I sympathies with Chekhov’s characters, both in his fictions and plays; poeple who are deep in pain and disatsters, …and their hands are not long enough to chang their world around…
The last statement of Chekhov’s plays describes alomost the whole piece:
In Sea-Gul’s end, The doctor says: The fact is, Konstantin Gavrilitch has shot himself …
At Cherry Orchard’s end, when all are gone, Firs, the old valet (waiter) says: Life has slipped by as though, I hadn’t lived. I lie dow...more
The last statement of Chekhov’s plays describes alomost the whole piece:
In Sea-Gul’s end, The doctor says: The fact is, Konstantin Gavrilitch has shot himself …
At Cherry Orchard’s end, when all are gone, Firs, the old valet (waiter) says: Life has slipped by as though, I hadn’t lived. I lie dow...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
idealistas, realistas y melancólicos
'La gaviota' tiene la mejor caída de telón final que se ha escrito nunca. No hay discusión posible. Como todas las obras de Chéjov es melancólica, contenida, llena de resignación, divertida, deliciosa y llena de amores no correspondidos. Y me encanta que en Chéjov siempre incluso los personajes más secundarios estén llenos de matices, tengan su historia detrás y una razón particular para su tristeza, además de un pequeño momento y unas líneas significantes para lucirse en escena. C...more
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I read this play my senior year for a theatre class, and it just affirmed my love for Russian authors. My immediate reaction after reading this was "why haven't I read this earlier"? Chekhov crashes the melodramatic tendencies of theatre during his time, by mastering the use of symbolism and subtext. The symbol of the seagull is one of the most extraordinary images I know of. Although the main themes - art and love - have been dealt with excessively in the past, there is something meta...more
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Read in March, 2008
"Чайка" ("Chayka")I've heard about this play and always wondered what it was about. It centers on the romantic and artistic conflicts between four theatrical characters: the ingenuous Nina, the fading leading lady Irina Arkadina, her son the experimental playwright Konstantin Treplyov, and the famous middlebrow story writer Trigorin.
Kind of abstract and depressing. I must have read a fairly poor translation too, as in looking around there are many versions available.
Kind of abstract and depressing. I must have read a fairly poor translation too, as in looking around there are many versions available.
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meisner says chekhov is a terrible playwright because of how complex his characters are...but i dont know. I could read chekhov all day. besides how confusing the names of his characters are (but thats just a russian thing) i love him.
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Read in December, 1994
I read this as part of my high school drama class and LOVED every word of it. Very emotional and bitter, but do yourself a favor and get the Frayn translation. All others are bogus and frauds!
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Read in January, 2001
While I acknowledge that this is an amazing play, I am so godforsakenliy sick of it and never want to read it see it or talk about it for at least 10 years.
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recommends it for:
drama nerds and Russian nuts
This should be the definitive translation, capturing the real wit and dramatic arc of one of Chekhov's most enduring works. It hums onstage.
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Spalding Gray's favorite play. I thought it was more strident than it needed to be at moments, but its age allows one to overlook it.
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Read in October, 2007
Chekov rocks - his characters are vivid, and you really can't find any playwrite who compares, even when translated into English.
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When you love, love responsibly or do not love at all. There is nothing worse than breaking the wings of a sea gull.
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The Seagull takes place on a Russian estate at the turn of the 20th century, and centers on a fading, aging starlet, her experimental playwright son who has gotten lost in her shadow, a naive young actress that he is in love with, a perpetually unhappy estate manager's daughter who is in love with him, and a middle-brow author whose affection the starlet and young actress fight to win. Through these characters, and a supporting cast, Chekhov establishes two main themes: the disaffection that sp...more
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Read in February, 2008
Chekhov can write women really well, which is a great accomplishment for male authors.
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Read in September, 2007
See it onstage. Shame on you if you aren't haunted by the last line.
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Read in October, 2008
Oooh, this one is really bleak. And so many pathetic characters!
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Terribly depressing. Chekhov's stories are much more fun.
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my favorite Chekhov-- funny, touching, and weird.
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