Platonov (play) facts for kids

Platonov (Russian: Платонов) is an early play written by the famous Russian writer Anton Chekhov in 1878. It's also known by other names like Fatherlessness or A Play Without a Title. This was Chekhov's first big drama. He wrote it for Maria Yermolova, who was a rising star actress at the Maly Theatre. However, Yermolova didn't accept the play, so it wasn't published until much later, in 1923.

The main character is Mikhail Platonov. He is a schoolmaster in a small town who feels disappointed with life and society. The play takes place in an old, run-down country house in the Russian countryside. Several women fall in love with Platonov, even though he is married. These include Anna Petrovna, who owns the land, and Sofia Yegorovna, who is the wife of Anna Petrovna's stepson.

Platonov believes that society lacks good ideas and strong principles. But he also knows that he is part of that same society. He enjoys thinking of himself as a clever and entertaining person. In the end, he feels trapped by the situations with the women. The story ends tragically for Platonov.

About the Play's History

Chekhov's original play is very long, about five hours to perform. He never felt it was truly finished, so it is not often performed exactly as he wrote it.

English Translations and Adaptations

The first full English translation of Platonov was published in 1964 by Faber and Faber. It was translated by David Magarshack.

Many people have adapted the play over the years. An adaptation means changing the original story or script to fit a new performance or audience. One very well-known adaptation was by playwright Michael Frayn. He called his version Wild Honey. It first opened in London in 1984 at the Royal National Theatre. The famous actor Ian McKellen played Platonov in this production. Wild Honey won several awards, including one for McKellen's acting.

In 1997, a director named Lev Dodin and the Maly Theatre of St Petersburg created a version that was very true to Chekhov's original text. They performed it at a festival in Germany. This version was also untitled and lasted about four hours. It later traveled to other cities like Saint Petersburg, Milan, and London.

Other adaptations have been performed in different theaters around the world. For example, David Hare adapted the play for the Almeida Theatre in London in 2001. This version was later performed again in 2015 and 2016.

In 2015, Andrew Upton adapted the play for the Sydney Theatre Company in Australia. He called it The Present. This production featured well-known actors like Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh. It was a big success and later moved to Broadway in New York City in 2016. This was the first time an all-Australian cast performed on Broadway, and it was the Broadway debut for many of the actors.

Platonov in Film and TV

Platonov has also been made into films and television shows.

In 1971, BBC Television created a version for their Play of the Month series. Rex Harrison played the main role.

In 1977, a Russian film called An Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano was made. It was based on Chekhov's play. This film was later adapted into a stage play called Piano in London in 1990.

See also

In Spanish: Platónov para niños