4 Must-See Chekhov Plays

Anton Chekhov is one of the most renowned names in Russian literature. In a previous post, we talked about Chekhov’s book ‘The Island of Sakhalin’. Today, however, the focus will be what he is perhaps best known for: the four plays he wrote in the last 10 years of his life. Known as his ‘four major plays’, these works are hugely popular.  Although Chekhov himself was critical of his play-writing skills (he described himself as ‘absolutely not a dramatist’), they keep his legacy alive, consistently being performed and reimagined in theatres across the world. This article will give you a taste of each of the four plays, in the hope of inspiring you to read or watch them yourself! 

1. The Seagull

Out of the four plays, Chekhov wrote The Seagull first. It is the tale of Arkadina, an aging, famous actress, and the friends and family who live on a Russian estate with her. Arkadina’s son, Konstantin aspires to be a writer, despite the discouragement of his mother. The central plot focuses on Konstantin’s goal and his love for a young actress. Although his love life seems successful, the young actress quickly falls in love with an accomplished author, who is romantically involved with Arkadina. The play presents the comic and tragic aspects of tangled relationships and artistic desire. 

Given its popularity today, it is hard to imagine that The Seagull was initially a failure. When it first premiered, it was so unpopular that it caused Chekhov to almost renounce writing plays entirely! However, it soon gained success and it is now even the source of the famous literary term ‘Chekhov’s Gun’. This is the principle that every aspect of the story, however small, should be relevant to the plot, and is still an influential concept today. 

2. Uncle Vanya

Although The Seagull nearly stopped Chekhov from writing, he persisted. Uncle Vanya came next, as the second play of this major four. The story describes life on a rural estate, which was left to a professor by his late wife. The estate was once run in peace by the late wife’s brother and her daughter, the professor returns with his new wife, and chaos ensues. The play is full of unrequited love and profound exclamations about the meaning of life, particularly from the title character, Vanya. It’s existential themes make it quintessential Russian literature! 

The play has been hugely successful across the world. Recently, productions of the play have seen famous actors play the role of Vanya, such as Steve Carrel and Andrew Scott. 

3. Three Sisters

The third play out of Chekhov’s four is called Three Sisters. Aptly titled, the play recounts the lives of three sisters: Olga, Masha, and Irina. They live in a provincial Russian town with their brother, and they spend their time dreaming of life in Moscow. They plan to move there, however, these plans never seem to be able to come to life. The characters are all stuck facing the monotony of life and the search for happiness in a world full of limitations. 

This play was the first one that Chekhov wrote specifically for the Moscow Art Theatre. They hired him after his first two plays, finally recognising his skill as a playwright. The play is a clear turning point, which predicts the immense success of his work. 

4. The Cherry Orchard

The Cherry Orchard is the last of the four major plays and is often considered the culmination of the other plays, with many shared themes and tropes. The plot recounts the situation of an upper class family who live on a large estate, which they love. However, the family have debts, and the audience watch them struggle with the concept of losing their precious home. The play is an excellent work of theatre and also a commentary on the decline of the upper class in Russian at the turn of the 20th century. 

This play is the final work of Chekhov’s plays and also the final work of his life. The Cherry Orchard was first performed in January 1904, and Chekhov died in July of that year. He would never truly know the enduring popularity of his final play. 

Overall, Chekhov’s plays are full of profound and engaging themes. Each one deals with unrequited love, asks questions about purpose in life, and is filled with complex characters. Chekhov mixes the genres of comedy and tragedy in the works, defying genre, and creating a unique style. While the brief summaries cannot do them justice, I hope they have inspired you to go and watch one (or all) of them!