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NEW IN PAPERBACKFirst performed at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1904, directed by Konstantin Stanislavski, The Cherry Orchard remains a classic of the theatre. Completed less than a year before his death at the age of forty-four, Chekhov's last 'comedy' still ranks supreme as a human tragedy of dispossession with audiences and actors alike.
Peter Gill's luminous version brings the psychological realism of Chekhov's characters into sharp focus; fragile souls poised on the brink of happiness which never comes, or trapped in a void between the old world and the new.
About the author
Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), Russian physician, dramatist and author, is considered to be one of the greatest writers of short stories and modern drama. Born in Taganrog, a port town near the Black Sea, he attended medical school at Moscow University. He began writing to supplement his income, writing short humorous sketches of contemporary Russian life. A successful literary careered followed, before his premature death of TB at the age of 44. He is best-remembered for his four dramatic masterpieces:
The Seagull (1896),
Uncle Vanya (1899),
Three Sisters (1901) and
The Cherry Orchard (1904).
Summary
A former Associate Director at the National Theatre, Peter Gill is one of the most enigmatic and respected figures in British Theatre. His version of The Cherry Orchard, considered to be Chekhov's greatest play, is now published in a new paperback edition.
Foreword
Peter Gill’s luminous version of The Cherry Orchard brings the psychological realism of Chekhov’s characters into sharp focus.
