The Fiancée is part of The Chekhov Collective’s Page to Stage Theatrical Readings of Literary Works. This is their fourth presentation of an Anton Chekhov short story onstage.

“I really like the page to stage format. I feel more connected to the actors, and even with simple stage actions, the images were vivid and complete.” -Audience member of The Darling, 2022.

The Fiancée, (also known as The Betrothed) was Chekhov’s last completed short story before he died from tuberculosis at the age of 44, and yet it is considered one of his most optimistic stories. The story finds Nadya, a young woman who is engaged to be married, something she has dreamed of for years. Her wedding is only a few weeks away but when Sasha, a distant relative comes to visit, her life begins to unravel.

Performed by the illustrious Susan Coyne (Stratford Festival) as Nadya, Brenda Robins (Soulpepper) as the Narrator/Marfa Mikhailovna/Father Andrei, David Storch (Crow’s Theatre) as Andrei Andreich/Alexander Timofeitch, with Rena Polley as Nina Ivanovna and directing the stage reading.

The Fiancée

by Anton Chekhov

Presented by The Chekhov Collective

Wednesday March 1- Saturday March 5, 2023 @ 8pm

Saturday March 4 + Sunday March 5 @ 2pm

at Red Sandcastle Theatre | 922 Queen Street East

Tickets: $25

www.redsandcastletheatre.com

Masks Mandatory | HEPA Filtered Theatre

*This is a Canadian Actors’ Equity Association production under the Artists’ Collective Policy.

About Chekhov Collective

The Chekhov Collective was formed in 2013 by a group of professional actors wanting to explore classic plays, putting the actor and the ensemble at the centre of the creative process. Inspired by the acting techniques of Michael Chekhov and under the artistic leadership of Rena Polley, the collective has presented two plays by Anton Chekhov, The Seagull and The Cherry Orchard; a play based on the letters of Anton Chekhov and Olga Knipper, I Take Your Hand in Mine ...; and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. They performed I Take Your Hand in Mine... at Washington's Capital Arts Workshop to rave reviews. They recently started Page to Stage: Theatrical Readings of Chekhov's short stories including The Lady with a Little Dog, The Grasshopper, The Darling and most recently The Fiancée.

Website: www.thechekhovcollective.com.

Illustration: “Anton Chekhov”. © 1898 Osip Braz.