ABSTRACT
With its adoption of Chekhov and Gorky as house playwrights, the Moscow Art Theatre began to develop a clear profile. ND, a good friend of Chekhov, had to persuade his partner to stage The Seagull; with its success and that of Uncle Vanya, KS became personally acquainted with the author. He was attracted to Chekhov's personality, but never overcame his awkwardness in the presence of a writer he admired; his letters veer from forced facetiousness to hyperbolic praise. The theatre, however, felt an affinity to Chekhov and solicited him to write for them. Chekhov in turn, attracted by the actress Olga Knipper whom he eventually married, followed the MAT's fortunes closely. Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard were written with specific actors in mind.
