The Seagull

Rating:
Summary: I would like to add that Chekov's brilliant play,
Review: "The Seagull," is also about how the constraints of society restrict us from achieving our goals. Constantin is not appreciated by the masses for his "experiemental" writing. Masha (?) feels trapped by her social position and unwanted by Constantin thus marries a schoolteacher who she doesn't love. Although Trigorin achieved success through his mediocre novels, he feels unsatisfied by not creating "real" art and compelled to anihilate anyone who attempts to create real art, such as Constantin. It is interesting to note that Constantin is secretly envious of Trigorin for his success and Trigorin is envious of Constantin for maintaining his integrity in his art. Maybe that's why they're always at each other's throats. Just my two cents.

Rating:
Summary: I would like to add that Chekov's brilliant play,
Review: "The Seagull," is also about how the constraints of society restrict us from achieving our goals. Constantin is not appreciated by the masses for his "experiemental" writing. Masha (?) feels trapped by her social position and unwanted by Constantin thus marries a schoolteacher who she doesn't love. Although Trigorin achieved success through his mediocre novels, he feels unsatisfied by not creating "real" art and compelled to anihilate anyone who attempts to create real art, such as Constantin. It is interesting to note that Constantin is secretly envious of Trigorin for his success and Trigorin is envious of Constantin for maintaining his integrity in his art. Maybe that's why they're always at each other's throats. Just my two cents.

Rating:
Summary: Universal
Review: Everyone, whether we like to admit it or not, wants nothing more than to lay on their deathbeds and be able to say "I have led a beautiful life." This intense desire lives within us all. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it causes us to worship other human beings as something more than human, sometimes it destroys us.

In Chekov's The Seagull, the brilliant playwright displays his passionate understanding of the desire that wrestles with the human soul. Subtly complex, The Seagull is a play meant to be read many times, and each time readers are bound to meet a different facet of themselves in the play's characters and their quests to satiate that voice within each of them, constantly whispering "you need more, more." It is a voice that leads one aspiring writer in the play to suicide, and cuts off another's capacity to embrace anyone but himself and his own entrapped mind.

Almost every facet of desire is explored here: love, life, death, dreams of glory, success, achievement. And, as with our very best playwrights, Chekov incorporates a masterful metaphor in his Seagull, which tightly wraps the play in a bundle of genius. Like Williams's breathtaking 'Night of The Iguana," and Ibsen's eerie 'The Wild Duck," The Seagull blends tragedy and beauty in an unforgettably delicate union. This is the kind of play that will stick in readers' minds for a lifetime.

Rating:
Summary: I'm a seagull; no, that's wrong
Review: GREAT PLAY-says so much about life and love.
Character driven.
Sad, but it's Checkov
Well worth the read!

Rating:
Summary: Grass Greener On Other Side
Review: In Chekhov's Seagull, the story is filled with the recurring theme of jealousy, reality, and identity along with the numerous unrequited loves in the book. One character loves another character who, yet loves a different character who loves another character. However, it is not a story of love by no means. It is a story of the love of each other's lifestyle. The grass is always greener on the other side for each character. Although a very easy read, Seagull is a comedy which seems somewhat like a tragedy the first time read.

Rating:
Summary: In Chekov this is called comedy
Review: Oh tormented people. One may read 'The Seagull' and wonder what's that all those things about death and killing, and failing love stories. So sad! But in Chekov's world this is a comedy, and it doesn't take too much to get why. It is indeed funny in some parts-- well, not the kind of funny we are used to, but nevertheless, it makes us laugh.

The tragicomic play is of paramount importance in modern teather. Rarely has a playwriter written such a realistic piece analyzing the life of an artist and his/her role in the society. In 'The Seagull' Treplieff is a writer wanna be, who is trying to grow over the shadow of her mother --an aging actress--, and to get an actress wanna be to love him. But above all, he has to deal with feeling jelous of Trigorin a youger and successful writer. There aren't many characters, but there is so much going on, personal dilemas, that the story grows to a placeless dimension.

Chekov can write with such a confidence that for not a second you doubt the existence of these people. His words are vivid. More than 100 years later, his play is up to date dealing with issues that are universal and timeless-- that can make you either cry or laugh.

Rating:
Summary: In Chekov this is called comedy
Review: Oh tormented people. One may read `The Seagull' and wonder what's that all those things about death and killing, and failing love stories. So sad! But in Chekov's world this is a comedy, and it doesn't take too much to get why. It is indeed funny in some parts-- well, not the kind of funny we are used to, but nevertheless, it makes us laugh.

The tragicomic play is of paramount importance in modern teather. Rarely has a playwriter written such a realistic piece analyzing the life of an artist and his/her role in the society. In `The Seagull' Treplieff is a writer wanna be, who is trying to grow over the shadow of her mother --an aging actress--, and to get an actress wanna be to love him. But above all, he has to deal with feeling jelous of Trigorin a youger and successful writer. There aren't many characters, but there is so much going on, personal dilemas, that the story grows to a placeless dimension.

Chekov can write with such a confidence that for not a second you doubt the existence of these people. His words are vivid. More than 100 years later, his play is up to date dealing with issues that are universal and timeless-- that can make you either cry or laugh.

Rating:
Summary: a masterful new translation
Review: Russian plays aren't for everyone--they are dense, heavy affairs, packed full of ideas and slow moving characters. If you are looking for a fast-paced potboiler with lots of action, etc. then stay away from Chekhov. But if you enjoy reflection and having something to talk about when you finish a book then Checkhov will serve you well--and, most improtantly, if you want to read "The Seagull" this IS the translation to get--Stoppard has done a wonderful job, making this classic even more readable and enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: a masterful new translation
Review: Russian plays aren't for everyone--they are dense, heavy affairs, packed full of ideas and slow moving characters. If you are looking for a fast-paced potboiler with lots of action, etc. then stay away from Chekhov. But if you enjoy reflection and having something to talk about when you finish a book then Checkhov will serve you well--and, most improtantly, if you want to read "The Seagull" this IS the translation to get--Stoppard has done a wonderful job, making this classic even more readable and enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Jealousy, ambition, despair
Review: The play is set on an estate in the Russian countryside, owned by the former state councillor Peter Sorin. He lives there with his nephew Konstantin Trepliev, the son of a famous actress and himself an aspiring playwright. His mother, Irina Abkadina, is a miserly and self-centered woman fascinated by her own fame and beauty. The only object of her affection is the famour writer Trigorin.

An abstract play written by Trepliev and performed by his young girlfriend Nina Zarietchnaya fails miserably, and Nina turns her attention instead to the more successful Trigorin. The young Trepliev attempts suicide, then challenges Trigorin to a duel. All his efforts are in vain, and Nina leaves for Moscow to be with her idol. Trigorin, however, soon forgets about her, and her career as an actress is even more miserable than Trepliev's career as a writer. Both youngsters thus face tragic fates as their failed ambition, jealousy, and misguided love and anger carry them to destruction.

This subtle work deals with issues such as unrequited love, jealousy, betrayal and vanity without being overly sentimental. It also addresses the spectacular effect people of charisma or celebrity can have on ordinary people, and suggests that this great power is a dangerous tool in the hands of people who are often hostages of their own reputations.