A Life of Chekhov

Monday 3 - Friday 7 November

A Life of Chekhov

Michael Hastings' adaptation of Irène Némirovsky's biography of Anton Chekhov dramatises crucial points in his life, from his tough childhood in the remote port of Taganrog to marriage in his final years.

Anton Chekhov ...... Andrew Scott
Masha Chekhov ...... Romola Garai
Yevgenia Chekhov ...... Niamh Cusack
Paul Chekhov ...... Dave Hill
Uncle Mitrofan ...... Alan Williams
Kolya Chekhov ...... Bo Poraj
Sasha Chekhov ...... Keith Dunphy

Director Lucy Bailey.

Listen again for a week at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/whour_drama.shtml

Have to say that I have found this adaptation pretty disappointing. I thought it would be more in the manner of Chekhov but it has been prone to overblown melodrama.

Hahahaha, yes I agree. I usually only alert others to a programme if I have listened to it, but the thought of Némirovsky and Chekov combined made this sound like essential listening. However, I stopped after the first programme, actually after Chekov got thrashed by his Yorkshire (?) Dad. A strange production - but perhaps someone will like it?

That's exactly what I thought - Némirovsky and Chekov sounded a good combination. After a couple of episodes I decided that what actually adapted was a biography of Chekhov written by Dave Pelzer.