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Ibsen and Chekhov

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Ibsen and Chekhov

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GypsyRoseLee

Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04

#0Ibsen and Chekhov
Posted: 1/4/05 at 10:51pm

Are these guys considered classical playwrights? If I were to do a monologue from one of their plays for an audition, would it be considered classical?

"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being." --Phylicia Rashad

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pab
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Broadway Legend Joined: 6/17/04

#1re: Ibsen and Chekhov
Posted: 1/4/05 at 10:52pm

Yes.

"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"

BSoBW2
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Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04

#2re: Ibsen and Chekhov
Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:53am

both are awesome and classic...

yeah for chekhov (go russia!)

Jon

Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04

#3re: Ibsen and Chekhov
Posted: 1/5/05 at 7:08am

Well, if you want to go all "theatre historian" technical, they are considerd "modern" playwrights, but for the sake of an audition, they fit into the "classic" category.

I like Chekhov because there is an element of humor behind almost everything he wrote. Ibsen, on the other hand, is just relentlessly depressing.

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onceadancer2

Leading Actor Joined: 5/22/03

#4re: Ibsen and Chekhov
Posted: 1/6/05 at 11:46am

They are considered classic. However, if you do a monologue get a play that has a modern translation. When I was growing up we only had the Constance Garnett translations. It was like reading a Serbo-Croation translation of Hungarian.

Miriam

Every movement has a meaning--but what the hell does it mean!

WOSQ

Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03

#5re: Ibsen and Chekhov
Posted: 1/6/05 at 11:54am

They are 'classical' indeed. Neither are particularly easy.

Make sure you get someone to direct your monologue. Chekhov in particular is loaded with text, subtext, irony, humor and juxtapositions. Find somebody smart and pay them if necessary.

"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

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robbiej

Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03

#6re: Ibsen and Chekhov
Posted: 1/6/05 at 11:55am

You may also want to find out if they want a 'verse' piece (a la Shakespeare).

"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

breakneckspeed

Chorus Member Joined: 1/5/05

#7re: Ibsen and Chekhov
Posted: 1/6/05 at 12:33pm

Generally, when people are asking for a "classical" monologue...they mean something with heightened language - i.e., Shakespeare, Marlowe, Moliere, Fletcher, the Greeks, etc. Something above the naturalistic modern style of speech...considering that Chekhov and Ibsen are the fathers of modern drama, they really aren't in the same class as the others. Sometimes exceptions are made - and I don't know what you're trying to use this monologue for - but if it's for college auditions, etc - Chekhob/Ibsen is not usually what they mean. They want good old thorough-bred classical drama.

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