"All Of Chekhov's Characters Are Fantastic Liars" (Day One of 'Shakespeare & Chekhov')

Back to school today: Day One of 'Shakespeare & Chekhov'.

We improvised the gyst of a scene (just as The Factory did...)

 from Chekhov's Uncle Vanya.

Anton Chekhov

Basically, the action of the scene involves Marina trying to get Astrov to accept a drink, and Astrov avoids one. He's got a drinking problem (Philippe says everybody in Chekhov's plays have drinking problems) and they both know it, but he won't admit it, and she wants him to. 

Philippe encouraged us to use tactics to get what we want. Specifically, to lie: "All of Chekhov's characters are fantastic liars."

M: A cup of tea? [Marina tests a very hungover Astrov]

A: I don't feel like one, thanks. [Astrov avoids]

M: How about a drop of vodka? [Marina pushes harder]

A: No. I don't drink anymore... [Astrov lies] How long have we known each other? [Astrov changes subject]

He said Chekhov is not small. We can laugh and be big. He demanded a big voice, and plenty of pleasure. "You have to put your words on the pleasure of being together."

"If you explain [have long text] without the pleasure of two actors on stage together, it's nothing...but Chekhov is not nothing."

Philippe then got us to do the scene with a tennis ball balanced between the two actors' foreheads, with music in the background. This helped with complicité and pleasure. It's hard to have a big voice but still remain with your partner when they are inches away!

Then he got us to come out on stage and say "Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" A pick up line basically. For the boys (after I did a rather camp version) he got us to say "Take off your clothes." Charming...

"Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?" - May West

And then he got us to keep the feeling of the pick up line in our voice as we said a line from the scene in which Astrov admits Marina is right about him. The text doesn't mean anything without the energy of the pick up line behind it.

Really great to see everybody again. And we've acquired 3 new faces. Ben from England, Claudia from Switzerland, and Sam (f) from Australia. The weather is great in Paris now (warm enough to wear just a T-Shirt) and the sun's out till late now, so after class we all went out to the park to have a drink and play a game of Ultimate Frisbee.