Chekhov and the Moscow Art Theater: Crash Course Theater #34

Get ready for Russian modernism. Mike is teaching you about the playwrighting of Catherine the Great, Anton Chekhov's plays, the Moscow Art Theater, and the acting theories of Stanislavski. It's all very real, and very modern. From a Realism and Modernism perspective.

Thanks to the following Patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:

Mark Brouwer, Kenneth F Penttinen, Trevin Beattie, Satya Ridhima Parvathaneni, Erika & Alexa Saur, Glenn Elliott, Justin Zingsheim, Jessica Wode, Eric Prestemon, Kathrin Benoit, Tom Trval, Jason Saslow, Nathan Taylor, Brian Thomas Gossett, Khaled El Shalakany, Indika Siriwardena, SR Foxley, Sam Ferguson, Yasenia Cruz, Eric Koslow, Caleb Weeks, D.A. Noe, Shawn Arnold, Malcolm Callis, Advait Shinde, William McGraw, Andrei Krishkevich, Rachel Bright, Mayumi Maeda, Kathy & Tim Philip, Jirat, Ian Dundore
--

Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[Hailstormand]

"...he moos at her, and she throws some shoes." That ending alone is enough for me.

[tervaaku]

Samovars are used for tea not alcohol. They're basically hot water urns.

[annajane]

"...the only not very thick Russian book that has ever existed."
I spit out my water.

[a_e_hilton]

"Instead, he moos at her. She throws some shoes" is such an accurate asking-her-out scene XD

[Luboman]

You guys introduced me to "The Cherry Orchard"! I saw the play a few weeks ago and, damn, I cried when the old servant Firs died, all forgotten and alone. It was one of the most affecting, tragic deaths I have ever seen. It was soooo sad. The actor who played him was incredibly good. But just...wow...the play's ending will stick with me, along with the German governess, she was very weird, whenever I think about "The Cherry Orchard."

[TheDumdei]

Chekhov was my primary focus when I was studying theatre in college, and the way I've always interpreted his emphasis on comedy (as compared to how Stanislavski wanted to play everything for maximum pathos) was that people and life can be ridiculous. Best example in his plays is the moment when Vanya shows up with a gun to shoot the Professor. He shoots the gun twice at point blank range, yelling "BANG!" each time, and he misses both times. It's the most ridiculous thing. (Also, definitely the best Chekhov gun moment in all of his plays.) It's the kind of thing that is funny to watch as an outsider, but it's also incredibly sad for the characters because of the depths of despair and anger Vanya has been driven to to find such action necessary. I doubt Chekhov wanted it played as farce, but I think perhaps Stanislavski was over "tragifying" such moments. It'd be like doing Jane Austen straight. It just doesn't work. Real people are ridiculous. So let the audience be reminded of that while still keeping them real.

[thehopeofeden]

I get a jolt of excitement whenever one of these videos is uploaded. It's my favorite of Crash Course, and it's so fun and interesting!

[camiloiribarren]

Learning about how real Russian theater realism is eye-opening. Very enlightening.

[falnica]

I hope "The cherry orchard" makes sense in context because by your explanation it just seems like a bunch of unconnected scenes

[xBlueSkittlesx]

I LOVE this channel. If I had learned all of this back in high school my life would be much different (would have participated in Drama class more). Thank you for this channel. I didn't realize how much I love the history of theater.

[deceptivepanther]

Lermontov is pronounced with the stress on the first vowel.

[SvetlankaSilverFox]

This is awesome! And so true abt the thickness of Russian books😂 My bag had an additional heaviness each time wnen we had literature classes at school

[JaimeNyx]

(removes the rifle from the wall)
*BANG*
And in a pool of his own blood, now lies...
My dignity.

[kasparkado]

Mikhail Chekhov, with his own system, is also worth mentioning.

[End-Result]

Bar the terrible Samovar gaff, one of the best episodes yet. Also you forgot to mention that Napoleon tried to conquer Russia and failed disastrously, hence the genre dedicated to exclusively besmirching him.

[KMO]

The Cherry Orchard is one of the greatest plays ever made.

[Cyssane]

It seems the artists didn't know cherries from apples. Cherries are small, and hang from the tree in bunches.

[Jaydoggy]

Chekov this from the subject list! .... :D Thanks everyone, be sure to try tonight's specials and vote in November.

[Dayglodaydreams]

Rugnetta has transformed from a delightful pop culture, philosophy (and sometimes science) commentator and, idea presenter to a delightful traditional culture educator (and idea presenter).

[sabrinaburt-seeger]

Has a bloopers compilation been made of this CrashCourse? If not, there should be! :D