The Good Doctor (Broadway Theatre Archive)
by Jack O'Brien
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bob Dishy, Edward Asner, Gary Dontzig, Lee Grant, Richard ChamberlainDirector: Jack O'Brien
Editor: Barney Robinson
Producer: Jac Venza
Producer: Lindsay Law
Writer: Anton Chekhov
Writer: Neil Simon
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 88 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-06-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Kultur Video
Movie Reviews of The Good Doctor (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Movie Review: Good Performance DVD, skits missing, homage Anton Chekhov lacking
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Good Doctor (play 1973 Broadway archive, PBS TV78, DVD2002, 90min)" a classic comedy play adapted to stage and film; Anton Chekhov, writer; Jack O'Brian, director; Neil Simon (1927- , 46yrs), adaptation screenplay; Kultur#D2608,0-7697-9608-7,no special features,%25list.
An homage to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, 19th Century Russian, world's most prolific short story (dare-I-say: pulp fiction) writer his era. Later, Chekhov writes 4 classical plays, directed Russian Stanislavsky's "Method" emotive acting technique, taught worldwide.
Classic produced many community, college, high school theatres dramas. Simon's "The Good Doctor" alternative billing Shakespearian Summer festivals. Short stories significant pedagogical value craft adapting short story to screenplay. "10-minute film" is essential admission requirement for Film school.
Act1Sc1 "Writer (prologue)" Simon introduces comic playwright Antosha Chekhonte, his early pseudonym (Richard Chamberlain). Chekhov, from poor merchant family, grew up southern Ukraine, near Black Sea, mouth Volga River. Attending Moscow Univ Medical School scholarship (1879-1884), needs money support bankrupt parents+five. Earns royalties writing short stories Moscow/StPetersburg newspaper humor columns magazines, becoming famous Russia at 25yrs over 500 Shorts. With brevity required publishers, only fraction translated English. Many are public domain, downloadable free from Gutenberg/GoogleBook projects.
For reference, DVD playtime stats and story length refer "The Good Doctor (1973)" 2-act play,11scenes,p391-471; in Neil Simon, "The Collected Plays of Neil Simon,Vol2," Plume/Penguin,1979(86),0-452-26358-1,737pgs,%22pbk. Nowhere are original Chekhov stories referenced by Simon; but Reviewer includes for film school aficionados after significant academic research.
Act1Sc2 "The Sneeze (0:04,14min,p395,10pgs)" Small-time city clerk (Bob Dishy) attends play when department head, General (Ed Asner), wife (Lee Grant) sits front Cherdyakov wife (Marsha Mason). He hopes make good impression boss for promotion reasons. He suddenly gives monumental sneeze, covering back boss's head with snot.
Ivan Ilyitch Cherdyakov, Asst Chief Clerk, Bureau Public Parks, Dept Trees & Bushes, idiotically, makes it "federal" case, even when bosses' boss, Gen'l Mikhail Brassilhov, Minister Public Parks, says forget it. Cherdyakov gets worked up, he dies.
Original short story: "The Death of a Government Clerk (1883,23yrs)," pXX-YY(3pgs), in APC, transl Constance Garnett, "Love and Other Stories" in the series "The Tales of Chekhov, Vol13," Macmillian, ISBN,1931(1923),306pgs,%XXhc.
Act1Sc3 "The Governess (0:19,10min,p406,7pgs)" Mistress (Grant) teaches Julia (Mason), governess (babysitter) how she is going to cheat/robbed servant wages.
From 40 rubles/mo to 10 rubles final; deducting for impossibly high verbal offer, no work Sundays, birthday & holidays, not teaching both children, child is sick, sick leave due to toothache, saucer breakage, child climbing tree ripping jacket, day dreaming, advance against future wages, uncounted money. Simpleton servant; a hilarious skit.
Original short story: "The Ninny (Feb 1883)," p48-50(2pgs) in APC, transl Robert Payne (U Liverpool), "The Image of Chekhov: 40 stories," Knopf,1963,LoC62-15559,347pgs,%6hc.
Act1Sc6 "The Seduction (0:29,16min,p426,12pgs)" Chekhov teaches how ladies' man can prey on attractive young wives through their prominent, successful, powerful husband. Initially ignore Irena (Mason) the target, profferizing husband Nikolaich (Dishy).
A wise and witty tale about marriage, fidelity, and art seducing married woman. As married woman, slyly clever Irena beats Pyotr Semyonych (Chamberlain) at his own game.
Multiple tales on Peter's scenes on peeking her interest and winning her indirectly. His method is ingenious: he tells woman's husband his envy, knowing he will dutifully report his wife. Final offer is immortalizing painting wife's portrait. Plans over 2-3wks laying scenarios thick and heavy, turning wife into ambivalent yet passionate angel. Slyly Peter lays meeting, preying on curiosity and loneliness, to public garden 8PM rendezvous.
Meeting Peter, Irena delivers soliloquy, 1-page angelic portrait, tormented by him, arousing passion. But such an attack my vulnerability, if I leave my husband though, it is forever. I will become your devoted love; you must take care of my passion, also forever.
Original short story: "Boa Constrictor and Rabbit (1887)," p131-6(5pgs), in APC, transl Avrahm Yarmolinsky, "The Unknown Chekhov: stories and other writings," Minerva,1968(1954),LoC54-9075,316pgs,%3pbk.
Act2Sc1 "The Drowned Man (0:45,10min,p439,7pgs)," Writer (Chamberlain) meets an expert (Dishy) at "drowning" for public amusement. He will drown (if paid for it). A constable (Asner) says 3 rubles too high; 60 kopecks is it. Finally bargain struck; but Writer forgets name Savior drinking in bar.
Original short story: "Drowning (1885)," p73-7(4pgs), in APC, transl Avrahm Yarmolinsky,opcit.
Act2Sc2 "The Audition (0:55,9min,p447,6pgs)," fledgling actress-to-be comes from country to big city stage, "reads" the finale "The Three Sisters (1900)," one Chekhov's four most famous plays.
Nina Mikhailovna Zarechnaya, a wannabe 22-yr-old actress (Mason), comes after 6+3 months on audition waitlist. Trained Mme Zoblienska, Odessa, she traveled 4 days on foot. Acts ending soliloquy sisters, Masha, Irina and Olga. We must live, work.
Skit was written Neil Simon as Sisters was one Chekhov's last works before dying. Simon first meets Marsha Mason (1942- ) during audition 1973 Broadway production last moment, after first choice declines. They marry before end season.
Unspoken homage, Chekhov's 1901 late marriage to founding actress Olga Knipper (1868-1959), Moscow Art Theatre (1898), performing:"Seagull(1896),Uncle Vanya(1900),ThreeSisters(1901)." APC wrote middle sister character Masha expressly Olga, then marries.
Skit inspired Neil Simon, "The Play Goes On: memoir," Simon&Shuster,1999,0-684-84691-8,348pgs,%27hc.
Act2Sc3 "The Defenseless Creature (1:04,10min,p453,9pgs)," half-mad old wife Shtchukin (Grant) who trys extorting money from stuffy, sick banker Kistunov (Chamberlain), manages terrifying him. She rambles family troubles, brings out chicken. Demands 24 rubles, 36 kopecks refund from husband's employer. Jewish Mother; then Witch's curse.
Original short story: "A Defenceless Creature (1887)," p265-72(7pgs) in APC, "The Horse-Stealers and other Stories" in "The Tales of Chekhov, Vol 10,"1921,312pgs,opcit.
Act2Sc4 "The Arrangement (1:14,9min,p463,6pgs)," Father (Chamberlain) arranges 19-year only son Antosha (Gary Dontzig) first sex, instead groping young maidens, with "knowledgeable" woman (Mason). Father has high expectations rite passage.
Father negotiates 'Tute's initial 30 rubles, imploring B-day gift, bargains 10 rubles his past, finally 20 ruble deal struck. Woman use compassion, gentleness. Finally realizes that his boy will turn man once mounts stairs. Wait! more birthdays come, lets get umbrella instead.
Original short story:
Comment: Poor English, AmazLengthReqts, like Chekhov, eliminatedVerbs,ArticlesAndPrepositions. DVD leaves out two Shorts, "Surgery(1884)" Pitcher or Payne (toothache neophyte dental asst) and musical "Too Late for Happiness."
Summary of The Good Doctor (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Anton Chekhov's early short stories, which so eloquently capture the comic and serious sides of the 19th century Russian Bourgeoisie, were the source and inspiration for this hit by Neil Simon--one of the most prolific and beloved playwrights of all time. Simon's tribute to Chekhov resonates with great feeling and warm humor. Richard Chamberlain as The Writer, who ties everything together, glides through the production in a variety of guises, opening with "The Sneeze" and progressing to "The Governess." He is joined by an all-star team of farceurs including Ed Asner, Bob Dishy, Lee Grant, and Marsha Mason. "Studded with the kind of names that make hearts palpitate... an elaborate conceit by Neil Simon." --The New York TimesComedy DVD Video
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