How does one interpret an enigmatic writer of early Realism and all he symbolized by acting in his plays? This question launched a two-semester project researching the writer, Anton Chekhov, and his work. Chekhov was a physician, naturalist, and playwright in Russia at the end of the 19th century. This research was essential as the preliminary step towards the final performance, A Chekhovian Sonata: Love in 3 Movements ("The Bear," "The Bride," and "The Marriage Proposal"), presented in February 2015. Although two of the movements were originally written as plays, the third piece, "The Bride," was a 1903 short story and needed to be adapted into a script. The cast, using devised and improvisational rehearsal methods, created a modern retelling of Chekhov's story. The research and the performances provided audiences with the proof of how poignant and vital the plays (and themes) of Chekhov can be for a contemporary audience.
