Platonov (play)
Encyclopedia
Platonov is the name in English given to an early, untitled play written in Russian by Anton Chekhov
in 1878. It was the first large-scale drama by Chekhov written specifically for Maria Yermolova
, rising star of Maly Theatre
. Yermolova rejected the play and it was not published until 1923.
The lead character is "Mikhail Platonov", a disillusioned provincial schoolmaster, and his name is used for the title in English translations. The work has been adapted and produced at the Almeida Theatre
in London, the Bristol Old Vic
, and by the Soulpepper Theatre Company
in Toronto. A widely-performed adaptation by playwright Michael Frayn
, given the title Wild Honey
, appeared in 1984.
Chekhov's own text, which despite a running time of about five hours he never thought of as finished, is seldom played. However in 1997 the director Lev Dodin
and the Maly Theatre of St Petersburg
presented a faithful, and once again untitled, version at the annual Weimar
arts festival. The running time was four hours. The production was taken to St Petersburg and Milan
later that year. Five performances were mounted at the Barbican Arts Centre, London, in June 1999.
in the title role. In 1976 writer Aleksander Adabashian and director Nikita Mikhalkov
transformed the work into another film, Неоконченная пьеса для механического пианино (Neokonchennaya pyesa dlya mekhanicheskogo pianino), made in Russian by Mosfilm
and released in the west as An unfinished piece for mechanical piano. This in turn was reworked by Trevor Griffiths
into a new stage version called Piano, produced at the Cottesloe Theatre
, London, in August 1990. Stephen Rea
was Platonov.
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
in 1878. It was the first large-scale drama by Chekhov written specifically for Maria Yermolova
Maria Yermolova
Maria Nikolayevna Yermolova was said to be the greatest actress in the history of the Maly Theatre in Moscow and the first person to be proclaimed the "People's Artist of the Republic" ....
, rising star of Maly Theatre
Maly Theatre (Moscow)
Maly Theatre is a drama theater in Moscow, Russia. Established in 1806 and operating on its present site on the Theatre Square since 1824, the theatre traces its history to the Moscow University drama company, established in 1756...
. Yermolova rejected the play and it was not published until 1923.
The lead character is "Mikhail Platonov", a disillusioned provincial schoolmaster, and his name is used for the title in English translations. The work has been adapted and produced at the Almeida Theatre
Almeida Theatre
The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980, is a 325 seat studio theatre with an international reputation which takes its name from the street in which it is located, off Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre produces a diverse range of drama and holds an annual summer festival of...
in London, the Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
, and by the Soulpepper Theatre Company
Soulpepper Theatre Company
Soulpepper Theatre Company is a Toronto, Ontario-based theatre company dedicated to presenting classic plays.-History:Soulpepper was founded in 1998 by twelve Toronto artists who dreamed of a company that would produce lesser known theatrical classics. Soulpepper has since become an important part...
in Toronto. A widely-performed adaptation by playwright Michael Frayn
Michael Frayn
Michael J. Frayn is an English playwright and novelist. He is best known as the author of the farce Noises Off and the dramas Copenhagen and Democracy...
, given the title Wild Honey
Wild Honey (play)
Wild Honey is a 1984 adaptation by British playwright Michael Frayn of an earlier play by Anton Chekhov. The original work, a sprawling five-hour drama from Chekhov's earliest years as a writer, has no title but it is usually known in English as Platonov, from its principal character "Mikhail...
, appeared in 1984.
Chekhov's own text, which despite a running time of about five hours he never thought of as finished, is seldom played. However in 1997 the director Lev Dodin
Lev Dodin
Lev Abramovich Dodin is a modern Russian theater director, the leader of Saint Petersburg Maly Drama Theater.-Biography:Lev Dodin was born in Siberia in 1944. He first experienced theatrical production as a child at the Leningrad Young Viewers’ Theatre directed by Matvey Grigorievich Dubrovin...
and the Maly Theatre of St Petersburg
Maly theatre
The Maly Theatre, or Mali Theatre, may refer to one of several different theatres:* The Maly Theatre , also known as The State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia, in Moscow...
presented a faithful, and once again untitled, version at the annual Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
arts festival. The running time was four hours. The production was taken to St Petersburg and Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
later that year. Five performances were mounted at the Barbican Arts Centre, London, in June 1999.
Film
The BBC produced a 1971 televised movie of the work, featuring Rex HarrisonRex Harrison
Sir Reginald Carey “Rex” Harrison was an English actor of stage and screen. Harrison won an Academy Award and two Tony Awards.-Youth and stage career:...
in the title role. In 1976 writer Aleksander Adabashian and director Nikita Mikhalkov
Nikita Mikhalkov
Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov is a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, actor, and head of the Russian Cinematographers' Union.Mikhalkov was born in Moscow into the distinguished, artistic Mikhalkov family. His great grandfather was the imperial governor of Yaroslavl, whose mother was a Galitzine princess...
transformed the work into another film, Неоконченная пьеса для механического пианино (Neokonchennaya pyesa dlya mekhanicheskogo pianino), made in Russian by Mosfilm
Mosfilm
Mosfilm is a film studio, which is often described as the largest and oldest in Russia and in Europe. Its output includes most of the more widely-acclaimed Soviet films, ranging from works by Tarkovsky and Eisenstein , to Red Westerns, to the Akira Kurosawa co-production and the epic Война и Мир...
and released in the west as An unfinished piece for mechanical piano. This in turn was reworked by Trevor Griffiths
Trevor Griffiths
Trevor Griffiths is an English dramatist.Raised as a Roman Catholic, he attended Saint Bede's College, before being accepted into Manchester University in 1952 to read English...
into a new stage version called Piano, produced at the Cottesloe Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, London, in August 1990. Stephen Rea
Stephen Rea
Stephen Rea is an Irish film and stage actor. Rea has appeared in high profile films such as V for Vendetta, Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire and Breakfast on Pluto...
was Platonov.