Ivanov: A Play in Four Acts (Methuen New Theatrescripts) (Modern Plays) - Softcover

Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich; Hare, David; Chekov, Anton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0413710505 ISBN 13: 9780413710505

Publisher: Methuen Publishing, 1997

Synopsis

This adaptation by David Hare premiered at the Almeida Theatre, London in 1997 starring Ralph Fiennes This is a drama of a Russian landowner's half-farcical, half serious personal crisis as he plummets fast into domestic and philosophical chaos. The central scene concerns a debate between the landowner and the young doctor about honesty. The latter thinks that honesty is to do with blurting out offensive truths, whilst the former insists that no-one can acquire honesty unless they have the self knowledge to examine their own motives. By turns despairing and passionate, this play offers an insight into a robust young writer, exploring themes that were to interest him in his later plays.

About this title

Review:

"""...as intimate and subtly plotted as a piece of chamber music"" Rachel Halliburton, The Evening Standard ""a play often patronised as an immature melodrama, one that Chekhov himself described as ""a pudding"", has the quirkiness, the subtlety, the unpredictable touches of human truth we associate with the great works that followed."" Benedict Nightingale, The Times "

About the Author:

Despite the general air of hopelessness and the deaths of two of the main characters, most of Ivanov is very funny in a typically Chekhovian way. Increasingly recognised as Chekhov's fifth masterpiece, this brand new translation by Russianist Stephen Mulrine, who also writes the extensive introduction, was specially commissioned for NHB's budget-priced Drama Classics series.

About this edition

• Publisher: Methuen Publishing
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0413710505
• ISBN 13: 9780413710505
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 116