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The Four Major Plays: The Seagull / Uncle Vanya / Three Sisters / Cherry Orchard
In these fresh, vibrant new translations of Chekhov's four greatest plays--Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and Cherry Orchard--the brilliant theatrical translator Curt Columbus recaptures the master's open-ended simplicity. Curt Columbus loves actors and his new translations of Chekhov's four major plays are his gift to them. These are wonderfully actable, clear, and ...more
paper, 304 pages
Published
January 25th 2005
by Ivan R. Dee Publisher
(first published 1964)
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Chekhov is a master.
Carol Rocamora rocks. I had her as a professor twice. She is so extraordinarily passionate about Russian literature that she seemed to become 30-40 years younger while teaching...and when she talked about Checkhov's dacha, I was able to "see" it.
The only thing I don't like about this translation is that though Carol retains Chekhov's poetry, her translation is a little too "American colloquial" at times. If I spoke Russian, I cou...more
Carol Rocamora rocks. I had her as a professor twice. She is so extraordinarily passionate about Russian literature that she seemed to become 30-40 years younger while teaching...and when she talked about Checkhov's dacha, I was able to "see" it.
The only thing I don't like about this translation is that though Carol retains Chekhov's poetry, her translation is a little too "American colloquial" at times. If I spoke Russian, I cou...more
So I didn't read this exact book, it was actually a really old copy of just his four greatest plays (trivia: can you name them?) Obviously the Cherry Orchard (I know you got that, Ms. Daniels), and The Sea Gull, Uncle Vanya, and 3 Sisters. What I really liked what that Checkov gives you a brief glance into realistic human behavior, and at different points in the drama, one character or another will step back and say, "What is life all about anyway? Why are we living this way? Can't we c...more
It's good to read a book that is more than simple entertainment. These plays are filled with humor (albeit dry, Russian humor) and poverty and social struggles.
I used Sparknotes to get others' ideas regarding Seagull. I tried to just breeze through Three Sisters, but didn't get into it at all. I decided to take notes on the characters in Cherry Orchard and read Sparknotes for themes, etc. The extra work on Cherry Orchard paid off. Yesterday, I met with some city officials regarding a prope...more
I used Sparknotes to get others' ideas regarding Seagull. I tried to just breeze through Three Sisters, but didn't get into it at all. I decided to take notes on the characters in Cherry Orchard and read Sparknotes for themes, etc. The extra work on Cherry Orchard paid off. Yesterday, I met with some city officials regarding a prope...more
I only read "The Seagull" this time around. Have read "The Cherry Orchard" and "Uncle Vanya" previously. Will have to get to "Three Sisters" another day.
One thing I liked was that this was an up-to-date American translation. No musty period pieces here. This helped bring out the farcial aspects of the play. After all, Chekhov himself called it "A Comedy in Four Acts." Plus, "The Seagull" contains (part of) a play withi...more
One thing I liked was that this was an up-to-date American translation. No musty period pieces here. This helped bring out the farcial aspects of the play. After all, Chekhov himself called it "A Comedy in Four Acts." Plus, "The Seagull" contains (part of) a play withi...more
I had an audition for 'Cherry Orchard' so I thought I would read all four major plays to check off Chekhov from my list.
I liked these a lot better than I thought I would, but this is partly because I had tried to read them before in a different translation and just couldn't maintain interest. These are pretty new translations by Carol Rocamora and they read pretty well. I felt like I could understand what was happening a little better, and the humor came out more. I think I like 'Uncle Va...more
I liked these a lot better than I thought I would, but this is partly because I had tried to read them before in a different translation and just couldn't maintain interest. These are pretty new translations by Carol Rocamora and they read pretty well. I felt like I could understand what was happening a little better, and the humor came out more. I think I like 'Uncle Va...more
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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
I remember reading Three Sisters and Cherry Orchard and being very drawn in and absorbed,and...moved, I believe it was.. but that's all I can recall. WOuld like to re-read since it left such an impression....
I'm ashamed to say that I had never read any Chekhov before this year. I decided that as an aspiring playwright, I had better get around to doing so. I loved these plays, especially "Uncle Vanya" and "The Cherry Orchard." The threat of foreclosure and ruin that hovers over the formerly affluent characters in these two plays was reminiscent of our current moment in history. The dialogue is beautiful to read. . . I now want to see more Chekhov plays actually in production. ...more
The best works of the Russian playwright who was also an acclaimed short story writer. Interestingly, although he gained great fame from his plays, he was at odds with director Constantine Stanislavsky (most well-known for the acting style that famously became known as "The Method," a realistic approach in which actors attempt to use their own emotions in portraying their characters); Chekhov considered the plays comedies, while Stanislavsky's productions tended to emphasize their tra...more
I like these plays better on the stage than on the page.
I absolutely love this translation of Chekhov!
this was one of my favorite play books
What a great storyteller.
Vanya is still my fav.
The Cherry Orchard was one of the first plays I ever read. It was a hot summer, I was 12 and "babysitting" my 7-year old cousin and I'd gone through my uncle's library. Plays had always struck me as something to be seen on stage and not read.
"Go on, read it" he said. I picked it up and loved it so much I had to read the other plays as well. That one play opened up a whole new world for me...
"Go on, read it" he said. I picked it up and loved it so much I had to read the other plays as well. That one play opened up a whole new world for me...
To be honest, I haven't read all 4, but thanks to the OSF in Ashland, I have seen all of them performed (which is actually better, in my opinion, especially with Chekhov).
Uncle Vanya has been my least favorite. Three Sisters I adored. Don't know if it was the productions or not. Looking forward to renting Uncle Vanya on 42nd Street.
Uncle Vanya has been my least favorite. Three Sisters I adored. Don't know if it was the productions or not. Looking forward to renting Uncle Vanya on 42nd Street.
I have seen the Seagull, Uncle Vanya and the Cherry Orchard on stage apart from reading some of them in translation of course. Intend re-reading the latter since its being staged presently and perhaps study it a little closer from a theatrical perspective. Will definitely read the Three Sisters from beginning to end this time round.
I absolutely love Chekov. I love his style of writing which draws attention to both what he says, but perhaps more poignantly to what he isn't overtly saying. Simple, clear writing and makes you mull over the ideas and characters for quite some time. These plays are lovely.
Almost all of his characters are educated, cultured aristocrats who lack the will to finish their own stories and just peter out. It so poignantly portrays the twilight years of imperial Russia before the U.S.S.R.
I must admitt I am profoundly in love with the russians..Cehov's world is so sensitive, romantic, painfull, his heroes are sometimes so miserable and their dreams unfullfilled...A magnificent writer!
I'm not a big Chekhov fan. *gasp* I know, I know. I've sat through many lectures, plays, all of it, and I feel as hopeless as the rest of the characters. Maybe that's the point.
These were pretty good, but they were not written for the stage, must have been a different version, the Cherry Orchard was the best.
i don't know which of his plays is my favorite ... i love them all so much that i couldn't possibly say i like one more than the other.
I love Chekhov! I also really like these translations. Everybody should get to know a play or two of his.
The Seagull quietly took over my life for a while. Well... maybe not so quietly...
Interesting to read Chekhov in terms of 'Comedy', which he claimed all of his plays were
I have a penguin edition and I really like that translation.
I'm quite fond of Uncle Vanya. The others I've read parts of.
I posted reviews on the pages for the individual plays.
I saw The Three Sisters in theater.... Don't miss it !!!!
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Антон Павлович Чехов
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born in the small seaport of Taganrog, southern Russia, the son of a grocer. Chekhov's grandfather was a serf, who had bought his own freedom and that of his three sons in 1841. He also taught himself to read and write.Yevgenia Morozov, Chekhov's mother, was the daughter of a cloth merchant.
"When I think back on my childh...more
More about Anton Chekhov...
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born in the small seaport of Taganrog, southern Russia, the son of a grocer. Chekhov's grandfather was a serf, who had bought his own freedom and that of his three sons in 1841. He also taught himself to read and write.Yevgenia Morozov, Chekhov's mother, was the daughter of a cloth merchant.
"When I think back on my childh...more
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