Chekhov in Yalta
Chekhov in Yalta is a play by John Driver and Jeffrey Haddow.
Contents
The original text
Set in in April of 1900, the play is about the time Chekhov was confined in his villa at Yalta by illness and receives a delightful visit by the Moscow Art Theatre, who had embarked on a provincial tour in order to persuade Chekhov to give them his latest play. Among the characters are Konstantin Stanislavski, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, Maxim Gorky, Ivan Bunin and actress Olga Knipper.
Written by John Driver and Jeffrey Haddow, and first performed at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, in 1981. Published by Samuel French. The play won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Distinguished Playwriting and an American Theatre Critics Association citation. Set in in April of 1900, the play is about the time Chekhov was confined in his villa at Yalta by illness and receives a delightful visit by the Moscow Art Theatre, who had embarked on a provincial tour in order to persuade Chekhov to give them his latest play. Among the characters are Konstantin Stanislavski, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, Maxim Gorky, Ivan Bunin and actress Olga Knipper.
It was first performed at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on 1981, directed by Ellis Rabb and Gordon Davidson.
The play received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Distinguished Playwrighting and the American Theatre Critics Citation.
Translations and adaptations
Filmed for ITV and broadcast in 1988.
Translated into Afrikaans by Alewyn Lee as Oom Anton by die see ("Uncle Anton at the sea").
Performance history in South Africa
1985: Performed by PACT at State Theatre Drama, Pretoria, directed by Richard Haines with Frantz Dobrowsky (as "Chekov"), Charlotte Butler ("Olga"), Michael McCabe, James Borthwick ("Stanislavski"), Peter Terry, Claire Stopford, Jacqui Singer as ("Masha"), Martin le Maitre ("Maxim Gorky") and Billy Second.
2011: Staged in Afrikaans as Oom Anton by die see at the US Woordfees, Stellenbosch, on the outdoor stage of the Klein Libertas Teater on 6, 8 and 13 March, as part of the Sanlam Dramafees. Directed by Juanita Swanepoel, with Waldemar Schultz, Francois Toerien, Jan-Hendrik Opperman, Johann Nel, Petrus du Preez, Ira Blanckenberg, Esther von Waltsleben, Stephanie Hough, Gaerin Hauptfleisch, Hugo Theart and Stephanie Badenhorst.
Sources
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2292258/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_productions_at_the_Mark_Taper_Forum#1981/1982
https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/5644/chekhov-in-yalta
Pretoria News, 23 May 1985.
'Woordfees 2011: Volledige program', LitNet, 13 January 2011.
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