Platonov, or Play with No Name

See it if Wickens' stripped down adapt makes Chekhov's title character a #MeToo reprobate yet still keeps him interesting; well acted by Stokes

Don't see it if Some actors had difficulty with duel roles Play's arc still clunky despite edit (more Chekhov's fault than Wickens) Fluid staging by Burr

See it if you are at all interested in Chekhov: this play is the seedbed from which his mature masterworks would spring over the next few years.

Don't see it if you are uneasy about mixing farce with tragedy.

Also The Blessed Unrest theater company, with a big assist from a lean, fast-moving, always vivid translation from Laura Wickens & lots of smart trimming, manages to excavate from Chekhov’s early, unfinished behemoth, “Platonov”, a high-pitched, exciting 90 minutes of theater. And director Jessica Burr carries this off while being scrupulously true to Chekhov, finding in the story of a provincial Russian middle-aging Don Juan the qualities that make early Chekhov fiction such fun to read: Human existence is absurd, mutable, unpredictable, boring, thrilling, hilarious, sad & even tragic all at once. Done in the round, the production flies. Except for the (excellent) actors playing the lothario school-master Platonov & Anna, mistress of the endangered estate where the action takes place, every performer plays 2 roles, 1 male, 1 female. Instead of being confusing, this reinforces the play’s central observation: How uncomfortably unstable human desire & even identity is! But how exciting too!... Read more Read less

See it if You adore Chekhov. A brilliant resurrection of his first play never performed before. Staging is hilarious.

Don't see it if See it ! No reason not to!q

See it if You enjoy Chekhov. Actors did a great job!

Don't see it if You are not open to different interpretations of Chekhov or are unfamiliar with Platonov.

See it if You enjoy an unique and a delightful adaptation of Chekhov.

Don't see it if You need a simple plot.

See it if uplifting comedy in trying times is what you need.

Don't see it if You hate Chekhov

See it if You are familiar with some of Checkhov plays and won’t get confused if a character plays 2 or 3 parts.

Don't see it if You get confused easily with someone plays a different part when changes their clothing.