Chekhov Shorts

Published Wednesday 11 October 2006 at 15:50 by Zoe Green

Chekhov wasn’t all doom and gloom. Before the Cherry Orchard and The Seagull, his plays show a lively sense of humour.

European Arts Company have showcased five of his shorter comic plays, including The Dimwit and The Proposal which - although they share many of the social concerns of the later plays - have a much lighter touch. Marriage, age and death are all material for Chekhov’s comedy. His characters are essentially what make his comedies, they are ridiculous and take themselves too seriously.

Take the scenario in The Proposal. An ageing man with a heart condition wants to marry his neighbour’s daughter. But when it comes to the proposal, he is too nervous to get it out and she, not realising the purpose of his visit, scuppers his best efforts by beginning an argument about a piece of land that triggers a heart attack. Fortunately, Chekhov’s treatment of his characters is - in the long run and in the best traditions of tragedy - usually sympathetic.

European Arts Company’s production of Chekhov Shorts is fast-paced, witty and engaging. Richard Latham, Daniel Harcourt and Jennifer Bryden complement each other well and are all so versatile that it is hard to believe there are only three of them.