The Seagull

by Christopher Hampton (Adaptation), Anton Chekhov

I know now, Kostya, I understand that in our work - doesn't matter whether it's acting or writing - what's important isn't fame or glamour, none of the things I used to dream about, it's the ability to endure.

The Seagull is one of the great plays about writing. It superbly captures the struggle for new forms, the frustrations and fulfilments of putting words on a page. Chekhov, in his first major play, staged a vital argument about the theatre which still resonates today.

Christopher Hampton's new version of this classic, directed by Ian Rickson in his last production as Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, London, premiered in January 2007.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Drama, Russia

96 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2007

About the author

Christopher James Hampton CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, screen writer and film director. He is best known for his play based on the novel Les Liaisons dangereuses and the film version Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and also more recently for writing the nominated screenplay for the film adaptation of Ian McEwan's Atonement.

Hampton became involved in the theatre while studying German and French at Oxford University where OUDS performed his play When Did You Last See My Mother?, about adolescent homosexuality, reflecting his own experiences at Lancing College, the boarding school he had attended. The play was performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London, and that production soon transferred to the Comedy Theatre, resulting in Hampton, in 1966, becoming the youngest writer to have a play performed in the West End in the modern era.

From 1968-70 he worked as the Resident Dramatist at the Royal Court Theatre, and also as the company's literary manager. Hampton won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1988 for the screen adaptation of his play Dangerous Liaisons. He was nominated again in 2007 for adapting Ian McEwan's novel Atonement. Hampton forthcoming project is the translation into English of Michael Kunze & Sylvester Levay's Austrian musical Rebecca based on Daphne du Maurier's book which is scheduled to premiere in 2009 in Canada, and then move to Broadway in 2010.

Reviews

[massmarketbareback · Rating 3 out of 5]

the play great, the versions bad

[r · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Russian play (and piece of literature) which I quite enjoyed and picked up serendipitously in the library! I see a lot of reviewers on here saying that the edition is not the best though, so I will like to read it again to fully experience Chekhov's writing for this book. Honestly no spoilers but the play carries some tones of sadness through many of the characters for me, and I especially love the renowned 'Chekhov's gun' in the play. (Might update rating when I've read a more acclaimed edition)

(Also, poor Treplev! :( )

[Bordelpartout · Rating 3 out of 5]

cis men in love be like: 'I was cruel enough to kill this seagull today. Now I'm laying it at your feet.'

more seriously, I will have to re-read this one, I don't think I really understood it >_<
reading for Drama and Theatre studies
+bonus point for the short number of pages

[Alesia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hampton's translation finally reveals where the comedy comes into this.

[Brian McCann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accessible, but the comedy is slow to come through. Names are tough. I was lucky enough to see this translation on Broadway in 2008.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rest in peace, Treplev, you would have loved Class of 2013 by Mitski. Also his play was unironically good.

This is an actor's rich and expensive dessert. Every character is specific and infinite, grounded and extravagant, all contradictions and opposites. All very miserable.

[Harry McDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really quite dull, rather academic translation of one of my favourite plays. How did any of the actors make the language work!?!?

[Cass]

I listened to a full-cast audio recording production by LA Theater Works.

[Cameron Greenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

So true trigorin