Check out Chekhov: celebrating the work of Russia's greatest storyteller

It's the weekend, and you need an intoxicating Russian eye opener. For stimulation, put down the Absolut and instead try out this weekend's centennial Chekhov celebration to explore another of Russia's great exports, dramatist and short-story writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. This weekend's conference culminates a year-long project between Duke and UNC designed to celebrate 100 years of Chekhov's life after [his 1904] death. The word "conference" doesn't usually scream entertainment, but this isn't your typical conference: The schedule includes student performances, food and, of course, scholarship.

The conference features several student performances written or inspired by Chekhov; their comic plays prove that Chekhov "was not all moaning and groaning," as Duke Professor Carol Flath, conceiver and planner of the conference, said. Three of Saturday's performances, Trailer Park Chorus Girl, A Work of Art and The Siren's Call are winners of a UNC student contest to adapt a Chekhov story into a short scene. Saturday afternoon, one group will perform a rethinking of Chekhov's The Chorus Girl, setting the story in a rural, southern trailer park and naming it Trailer Park Chorus Girl. Another group of UNC students will be putting on their version of A Work of Art--in Russian. Duke Theater Studies professor Jeffrey West will round out the afternoon performances, directing theater students in short scenes from one of Chekhov's most famous plays, Three Sisters. The Duke Russian Chorus (yes, Duke has a Russian chorus) will serenade the audience after the skits.

In the evening, Duke Students will perform another Chekhov-inspired play based on The Siren. Chekhov's story features a group of hungry civil workers who become so engrossed with discussing food that they are unable to work because of their whetted appetites. The Duke version, set in a law firm, is called The Siren's Song and will be followed by a Siren-inspired dinner in case the audience is similarly paralyzed with hunger. (Note: A full-length performance of Chekhov's The Seagull produced by Duke alum Carla Brackman is playing at Temple Ball Gallery in Carrboro. The 8:15 p.m. performances started yesterday and run through April 3.)

"[What is] unique to this conference is that it's a combination of students and scholars," said Flath. Indeed, though there is a heavy scholarly aspect to the conference, the Wilson faculty-in-residence professor said that speakers understand the event is not a scholars-only club. Speakers will include one of the best-known Chekhov scholars, Moscow's Vladimir Kataev, Columbia University's Cathy Popkin, playwright Brook Stowe and UNC's professor emeritus Paul Debreczeny, who will discuss the connection between Chekhov and Russian landscape artist Isaak Levitan.