The Challenge of Finding the “Soul” Of Peter Trofimov
Introduction
I have been privileged to be given the part of Peter Trofimov as my thesis role in the Regent University production of The Cherry Orchard in October 2012, as directed by Scott Hayes. In this essay, I will talk about the challenges in doing this part, and how to handle them. I will explain why I believe the techniques of Michael Chekhov are the most appropriate to build the base of a Chekhov character.
Before you can even begin a journey on attacking a Chekhov part you have to understand the time period of when it was written. But more important, you have to understand the Russian culture, and yes I would even go as far as saying you have to “dress” yourself with the Russian feeling of the time. Now this is a challenge. How can one do this? For my own part I am lucky and privileged to have the opportunity to work with this play, as I have a background that consists of training at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts. I’ve also been fortunate enough to go to Moscow to perform the play Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol. Due to these experiences I have a firm foundation in tackling a Russian character. Using my previous experience in tandem with my research I will find the soul of the character Peter Trofimov.
How can I “dress” myself and my character with this Russian feeling I mentioned earlier? Is it necessary to travel to Russia? I would say yes, but not necessarily physically. The way I would work to find the “feeling of Russia” is through literature, first and foremost reading all of Chekhov’s plays and short stories, because this is where you find the “soul” of his characters. How can one reach the core of truth in Chekhov’s characters and in my case the c...
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...rld of Chekhov for someone who is new to his plays, and for someone like me who has “battled “a Chekhov part before, it confirmed the feeling of the material I already had about the world of Chekhov.
Works Cited
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Michael Chekhov. Colorado State Thespians. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.
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Tobias, T. (2008, July 7). Mark Morris Rethinks Prokofiev's `Romeo' as Lusty, Gender Bending, Not Tragic. Retrieved February 27, 2010, from Seeing Things: Tobi Tobias on Dance et al.: http://www.artsjournal.com/tobias/2008/07/mark_morris_rethinks_prokofiev.html
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The novel: A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (written by Alexander Solzhenitzyn), tells the story of a Russian soldier’s life in a Siberian labor camp around the time of World War II. The protagonist in the story, Ivan, better known as “Shukhov”, is wrongly accused of committing treason and is sentenced to full 10 years of imprisonment in the camp. Throughout the story, the author makes vivid references to help the reader identify with the setting, climate, and overall feeling of what Ivan must deal with on a day-to-day basis. This helps the reader to better understand the points and the reality of what it was like living in one of these camps.
Ideas brought up concerning setting also helped me understand some of the author’s craft within the novel. The fact that St. Petersburg is a western city that is trying to mimic parts of Europe (particularly France) shows how it is cut off from the rest of Russia, and filled with the wealthy. This made the book make mo...
Ivan Denisovich Shukhov is a man that has learned to deal with a life that is an endless struggle for survival. For example, Shukhov has learned to prioritize the necessities of his life. One being a decent amount of food daily. Shukhov has been able to learn the ropes of the camp and know what he has to do and who he has to interact with in order to get them. He also knows that he should not take lightly what he has and because of that, more than once saved pieces of bread, from an already small meal, for times when he knows he will need them more. Furthermore, Shukhov knows that he is not the only one with a life like his and treats his fellow “zets” with the help and compassion they deserve. He has helped out many of the other zets learn to survive in the work camp and in turn is given more respect than others. In addition, Shukhov, although dehumanized at almost every time of the day, is still able to keep values of his own. Values of respect, to those who have earned it; self pride, so not to be pushed around by just anyone; and even after eight years of facing the bitter cold he will not eat with his hat on. It is Shukhov’s character that kept him alive and sane after eight years in the harsh Stalinist Work Camp.
In Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, a unconventional but beautiful family heirloom is used as the focal point of the Ranevsky family crisis, bringing into focus everything from the changing political systems in late-19th-century Russia to the fall of the serf-feudal social structure to the family’s own emotional turmoil. The sale of the Ranevsky’s cherry orchard seems at first a very personal tragedy for the family and represents the loss of their memories and proud past, yet Chekhov is able to magnify this calamity and make it applicable to all of Russia; it is his method of foreshadowing. The loss of this prized symbol of the Ranevsky’s represents the loss of Russia imperial age as whole and its progression into the Bolshevik era, despite Chekhov never being alive to witness it. Ultimately however, Chekhov remains ambivalent about this change, and not only utilises the cherry orchard to illustrate this but a variety of contrasting characters that symbolise the old and new Russia.
Gainor, J. Ellen., Stanton B. Garner, and Martin Puchner. The Norton Anthology of Drama, Shorter Edition. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. Print.
Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard were famous for the way in which they depicted the changing of cultures. Both plays act as a sort of social commentary during times of widespread liberation, and use the contortive nature of these seemingly stereotypical characters’ actions to speak about groups of people as a whole. Throughout the course of both plays, this subversion of how different groups of people were typically perceived created a distinct contrast which often shocked and appalled audiences of the time. However, the effects of these plays were felt long after they were presented.
Dostoevsky’s noteworthy literary works each contain similarities in theme, character development, and purpose when analyzed beyond face value. Dostoevsky’s early life and ideals, intertwined with life-changing events that shifted his ideologies, and critiques of fellow Russian writers during his time period lay the groundwork for Dostoevsky’s recurring arguments for the way which Russian society would be best-off, as well as ways in which the people of Russia would be suited to live the most fulfilling, non-corrupt lives.
Chekhov used characterization to put forward the message that greed is a truly crippling trait of mankind. Through both the actions and dialogue of the banker the reader saw how greed causes man to behave. Via the dialogue and thoughts of the dynamic character, the lawyer, the reader realized the awful results of avarice. Greed is a timeless theme that, throughout history, has had a perpetually poor outcome.
Anton Chekov's The Cherry Orchard serves as a glimpse into the lives of upper middle-class Russians at the turn of the century. The play at times seems to be a regretful account of past mistakes, but at other times it seems very comedic. The final outcome tends to classify it primarily as a tragedy with no shortage of lighthearted moments. It invokes many feelings within the reader: joy, regret, pity, and anger are all expressed among the interactions of several characters with rich and complicated personalities. The reader finds some parts of the characters appealing and some parts disgraceful. This complexity enhances the authenticity of the roles and in turn augments the reader's emotional involvement.
As enticing, captivating, and entertaining as it is, Dead Souls both frankly and meticulously brings clarity upon the flaws and faults of Russian class, noblemen, and society as a whole. Nikolai Gogol passionately and powerfully calls for change and, with his unblemished skill over satire, is able to comically, yet effectively convey his message. Through his endeavor to correct Russian society, he left an impact in Russian prospect, as well as a message for the world to take heed. Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol’s stunning success, Dead Souls, will forever leave a mark as not only a resolve to further better a nation, but also as an epitome of satire for the world.
Through the plays The Cherry Orchard and The Three Sisters, Anton Chekhov demonstrates the themes of love, memory of the past, and defeat. Both the Ranevskaya and Prozorov families have endeared great hardship in different ways in their life. Unfortunately, how they dealt with these situations is very similar, both ending in defeat. Anton Chekhov wrote these two tales in a way that leaves both of these pieces to be considered literary masterpieces. Through trial and error with his writing, Chekhov is now considered the best Russian playwright. As Anton Chekhov once said, “One must be a god to be able to tell successes from failures without making a mistake” (“BrainyQuote”).