Rarely, though, do you get a chance to see his forgotten first play,Platonov.
Second, and more mysteriously, its just one of those plays that tends to get overlooked.
Its a second-tier work that seems to shrink when put under the same spotlight as Chekhovs first-tier ones.
Its his Beethovens Symphony No.
2 impressive, but no one walks around humming it.
Andrew Upton, the former artistic director of the always-innovative Sydney Theatre Company, is out to change that.
Blanchett and her fellow Aussie costar, Richard Roxburgh, arent strangers to Chekhov.
But sparks alone arent enough to make the unfocused and overly busy play soar.
Its the definition of an ambitious mixed bag.
That last one will come as no surprise to Chekhov fans.
Chekhov, of course, doesnt let you down.
There are 13 of them in all.
Still, with that pistol sitting idle stage right, theres a third star of the show.
