Playing Chekhov in China

Adaptation of master writer's famous play places a fresh spin on a Russian classic, Cheng Yuezhu reports.

Some works of theater have a timeless nature, so much so that no matter how many times they are performed, they remain relevant, according to Li Yu, a young director at the National Theatre of China. For him, Russian literary luminary Anton Chekhov's classic Three Sisters is one such play.

To mark both the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia and the 120th anniversary of Chekhov's death, the theater presented an adaptation of Three Sisters directed by Li, between Oct 26 and 30.

Set in a provincial town, the play follows the family of a military officer, with a focus on the three titular sisters — Olga, Masha and Irina — who live with their brother. They long to return to Moscow, where they had lived 11 years earlier, as they grapple with the struggles of everyday reality.

"One reason we chose to adapt Three Sisters is that in it, Chekhov focuses on the perspectives of young people. This is a play we can relate to more as young theater practitioners," Li says.

"Moreover, Three Sisters explores hope and disillusionment, and the faith of pursuing hope. This theme, I believe, is eternal. By staging the play today, we hope to establish a conversation with contemporary audiences, to convey the beauty of this classic, and to pass on its vitality and power."