Anton Chekhov offers a critical introduction to the plays and productions of this canonical playwright, examining the genius of Chekhov's writing, theatrical representation and dramatic philosophy.

Emphasising Chekhov's continued relevance and his mastery of the tragicomic, Rose Whyman provides an insightful assessment of his life and work. All of Chekhov's major dramas are analysed, in addition to his vaudevilles, one-act plays and stories. The works are studied in relation to traditional criticism and more recent theoretical and cultural standpoints, including cultural materialism, philosophy and gender studies.

Analysis of key historical and recent productions, display the development of the drama, as well as the playwright's continued appeal. Anton Chekhov provides readers with an accessible comparative study of the relationship between Chekhov's life, work and ideological thought.

Rose Whyman is Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham, UK. Her book, The Stanislavsky System of Acting, Legacy and Influence in Modern Performance, was published in 2008.

PART 1 LIFE AND CONTEXT

OVERVIEW

1. LIFE, CONTEXT AND IDEAS
2. CHEKHOV'S ART AND WORLDVIEW

PART 2 PLAYS AND PRODUCTIONS

1. VAUDEVILLES AND ONE ACT PLAYS
2. SUICIDE AND SURVIVAL: IVANOV AND THE SEAGULL
3. SPACE AND CONFINEMENT: UNCLE VANYA
4. WORK AND WOMEN; THREE SISTERS
5. MODERNIZATION AND CHANGE: THE CHERRY ORCHARD

AFTERWORD