In the past week, Garrison Keillor's "Writer's Almanac" noted the birthday of Anton Chekhov, born January 29, 1860, in Ukraine. And two days after his birthday, in 1901, his "Three Sisters" was given its first performance, at the Moscow Art Theatre, directed by Konstantin Stanislavsky, with Chekhov's wife, Olga Knipper, as Masha.
This brought to mind the fine West Coast Actors productions of "Three Sisters," "The Seagull" and "The Cherry Orchard," directed by Robert Graham and staged at Vancouver East Cultural Centre, with what may have been the most accomplished repertory group ever assembled in Vancouver.
And then, in a fascinating collection titled "Lists of Note," we found Chekhov's list of qualities of civilized persons. One is "If they have talent, they respect it."
Which immediately reminded us of something that Tony Bennett said "changed my life." Jack Rollins, Woody Allen's longtime manager, said of Lenny Bruce, "He sinned against his talent."
Respect for talent. Guarding the gift.
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