Great points about the surfs' history and its affect upon the play; Lapapik's joyous achievement; all the drinking activity; the awaking/going to bed all in the first Act ... Good one, James 🎉
Thank you so much for your insights, James. I really enjoyed reading this play and like you say found the ending so sad. Especially as so many moments in the play could have resolved differently if someone would only take the lead and take some positive decisions, but instead they are all so shambolic in their management of their affairs and of other people. Would it have been so hard to confirm that Firs had actually been picked up that morning?! Yeesh, these people. And yet I found myself also sympathetic about their loss, of that passing of a way of life. Fascinating to think of the revolution around the corner, and whether Lopakhin will see his dream realized or whether his fortunes will turn as those before him. Anyways thanks so much for asking us to read this play. Looking forward to watching a production. Found a subtitled Russian theatrical production on Hoopla through my library. 🌸
Thanks for your thoughts. so many missed chances in this one. If the Russian doesn't do it for you, try the 1981 BBC version which is free on TH-cam and very good.
Will do! Thanks! You were so right about the Saoirse Ronan/Annette Benning adaptation. I really enjoyed it and agree that Elizabeth Moss gave a great performance as Masha.
Fascinating! I didn't know the thing about serfs being connected to the land. I reall, really hated the serf turned merchant/ business man I forget his name! I thought he was definitely the villian. I will make a video soon talking about my feelings towards him and Sasha the scoundrel. I hated them both so much. Thank you for all these insights about the characters. I liked Firs. Another very sad ending.
Chekhov's job offer, love it! I had the feeling Lopahin had a heart for Mme Ranevskaya, especially in act two, but it wasn't explored further in the colorized version I saw. That production was so magickal. When I read the play alone in act one, I thought Ranevskaya and Anya were nothing but frivolous, but the actors changed my mind in a big way. Thank you so much for talking through the play and for framing it with the Bolshevek revolution in your earlier video. Great stuff!
Poor Firs. The first time through, I got hung up on Lopakhin’s glee at buying the orchard. It seemed jarring and off-putting until I took a beat and looked at the whole thing more holistically with an understanding of the history (though it still rings as rudeness to my cushy modern sensibilities). I also really liked Chekhov’s use of the sound of a breaking string. I know I’ll be reading more of the plays, but I’m thinking I’ll wait. Surely you’ll be doing Chekhovember again next year, yes? Of course you will.
Thing about Lopakhin is he's both off-putting and crass and an admirable striver. He's bound to have more appeal to Americans than to Russians I suppose. All mixed up, right? I think I will do more Chekhovember next year (I'm not like some booktubers I could name who pretend that next year is a foreign country). I think some of my fellow Chekhovians are less taken with him than I. We could certainly do the other two big plays next year baruch hashem.
Nice one, James! The nuances and fine brushstrokes of Chekov are easy to miss at first glance. But there really is immense depth and power under the deceptively simple surface. I think you articulate his strengths aptly!
![Путин и ПЕСКОВ ждут звонка от ТРАМПА 😁 [Пародия]](/img/n.gif)
Great points about the surfs' history and its affect upon the play; Lapapik's joyous achievement; all the drinking activity; the awaking/going to bed all in the first Act ... Good one, James 🎉
Thank you so much for your insights, James. I really enjoyed reading this play and like you say found the ending so sad. Especially as so many moments in the play could have resolved differently if someone would only take the lead and take some positive decisions, but instead they are all so shambolic in their management of their affairs and of other people. Would it have been so hard to confirm that Firs had actually been picked up that morning?! Yeesh, these people. And yet I found myself also sympathetic about their loss, of that passing of a way of life. Fascinating to think of the revolution around the corner, and whether Lopakhin will see his dream realized or whether his fortunes will turn as those before him. Anyways thanks so much for asking us to read this play. Looking forward to watching a production. Found a subtitled Russian theatrical production on Hoopla through my library. 🌸
Thanks for your thoughts. so many missed chances in this one. If the Russian doesn't do it for you, try the 1981 BBC version which is free on TH-cam and very good.
Will do! Thanks! You were so right about the Saoirse Ronan/Annette Benning adaptation. I really enjoyed it and agree that Elizabeth Moss gave a great performance as Masha.
Fascinating! I didn't know the thing about serfs being connected to the land. I reall, really hated the serf turned merchant/ business man I forget his name! I thought he was definitely the villian. I will make a video soon talking about my feelings towards him and Sasha the scoundrel. I hated them both so much. Thank you for all these insights about the characters. I liked Firs. Another very sad ending.
I was going to read the Cherry Orchard but my tbr is currently jammed! (Best I could do James.)
Chekhov is always waiting for you
Chekhov's job offer, love it! I had the feeling Lopahin had a heart for Mme Ranevskaya, especially in act two, but it wasn't explored further in the colorized version I saw. That production was so magickal. When I read the play alone in act one, I thought Ranevskaya and Anya were nothing but frivolous, but the actors changed my mind in a big way. Thank you so much for talking through the play and for framing it with the Bolshevek revolution in your earlier video. Great stuff!
Ha! glad you caught that. I'm glad people are finding that they like these plays, because they're really special.
Poor Firs. The first time through, I got hung up on Lopakhin’s glee at buying the orchard. It seemed jarring and off-putting until I took a beat and looked at the whole thing more holistically with an understanding of the history (though it still rings as rudeness to my cushy modern sensibilities). I also really liked Chekhov’s use of the sound of a breaking string. I know I’ll be reading more of the plays, but I’m thinking I’ll wait. Surely you’ll be doing Chekhovember again next year, yes? Of course you will.
Thing about Lopakhin is he's both off-putting and crass and an admirable striver. He's bound to have more appeal to Americans than to Russians I suppose. All mixed up, right?
I think I will do more Chekhovember next year (I'm not like some booktubers I could name who pretend that next year is a foreign country). I think some of my fellow Chekhovians are less taken with him than I. We could certainly do the other two big plays next year baruch hashem.
@JamesRuchala Yes please. And more mandolin.
Nice one, James! The nuances and fine brushstrokes of Chekov are easy to miss at first glance. But there really is immense depth and power under the deceptively simple surface. I think you articulate his strengths aptly!
Thanks for watching Bren! I've been so pleased to hear from people discovering or rediscovering AC through this event.
Wow, very informative. Thanks!
Thank you for watching!
I like your reading of this a lot
Thanks for watching Randy
@JamesRuchala You keep making videos, and I'll keep watching 'em. You're the man.
New friend frm India ❤
Thanks for watching!
I wouldn't mind more mandolin.
Aww twist my arm. David Novak is doing regional accents. I may as well post more music