Date of Award

1987

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts

Department

Theatre

First Advisor

Niki Juncker

Second Advisor

Ann Canale

Third Advisor

Suzanne Mills

Abstract

This MFA thesis by Matthew S. Schliesman, titled “Chekhov and Friends: The Director’s Role in a Work-in-Progress,” documents a creative reinterpretation of Anton Chekhov’s one-act plays The Bear and The Proposal through the lens of 20th-century television variety entertainment. Inspired by The Carol Burnett Show, Schliesman constructs a fictional Russian vaudeville performer—Karoltina Burnetskaya—whose variety show provides a narrative framework for the two Chekhov plays and additional material, including a musical number and an improvised short story adaptation. Set in 1906 Russia during a time of political unrest, the show blends period elements with modern theatrical conventions and humor, aiming to make Chekhov’s works more accessible to contemporary audiences while preserving their historical texture. The thesis includes detailed analysis of Chekhov’s characters and themes, production notes, and a director’s journal documenting the rehearsal process, challenges encountered, and lessons learned. Schliesman reflects on the directorial choices, the balance between originality and fidelity to source material, and the experience of synthesizing historical research with comedic reinterpretation. The result is both a performance piece and a reflective study on the challenges of recontextualizing classical texts for modern performance.

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