Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Anton ChekhovTO E. M. S.MELIHOVO, November, 1896.If, O honoured “One of the Audience”, you are writing of thefirst performance, then allow—oh, allow me to doubt your sincerity.You hasten to pour healing balsam on the author’s wounds, supposingthat, under the circumstances, that is more necessary andbetter than sincerity; you are kind, very kind, and it does credit toyour heart. At the first performance I did not see all, but what I didsee was dingy, grey, dismal and wooden. I did not distribute theparts and was not given new scenery. There were only two rehearsals,the actors did not know their parts—and the result was a generalpanic and utter depression; even Madame Kommissarzhevsky’sacting was not up to much, though at one of the rehearsals sheacted marvellously, so that people sitting in the stalls wept with bowedheads.In any case I am grateful and very, very much touched. All myplays are being printed, and as soon as they are ready I shall sendyou a copy ….343