1899: “Uncle Vanya” At The Moscow Art Theatre

Anton Chekhov’s 1897 play, “Uncle Vanya”, in the 1899 Moscow Art Theatre production.

The Moscow Art Theatre production was directed by Constantin Stanislavski, who also played the doctor. In the photograph, Stanislavski may be seen third from the right.

To Stanislavski’s consternation, Chekhov declined to explain or expand upon the text of the play. However, as Stanislavski was later to relate, Chekhov’s refusal forced Stanislavski to dig beneath the surface of the text to find psychological truth—and the exercise changed Stanislavski’s life and work (and world theater as well).