Grand Théâtre to Host Premiere of Myriam Muller's Play "Ivanov"

Luxembourg actress and director Myriam Muller will be presenting her new production "Ivanov" at the Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg on Friday 28 February and from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 March 2020 at 20:00.

Following the success of the in-house production "Breaking the Waves", presented at the Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg in February 2019, the Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg have announced the premiere of Myriam Muller's latest production, an adaptation of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's "Ivanov" (1887).

Anton Chekhov was 27 when he wrote "Ivanov", his first long play, in the space of two weeks. The original version of the play, a raw comedy in four acts and five paintings, provoked a scandal and so, in 1889, the playwright removed the comic elements and created a drama in four acts which went on to achieve great success. Myriam Muller's creation of the same name is based on the first version, the burlesque comedy, the youthful work of Anton Chekhov.

Synopsis

Ivanov is a landowner riddled with debt and who can no longer stand his Jewish wife Anna Pétrovna, even though she is dying of phthisis. He seeks refuge with an old alcoholic friend, Lébédev, whose wife lends him money and whose daughter, Sacha, is in love with him. Embittered, Ivanov makes numerous errors. When his wife passes away, he decides to marry Sacha...

By choosing such a common Russian name (the equivalent of Smith), Anton Chekhov hints that Ivanov could be anyone. In his youth, Ivanov wanted to change the world. He risked a lot and gained little. Now at the turn of his forties, he lacks strength, energy, the desire for life, and he gives up. Anton Chekhov thus describes with a decrepit, stupid, wicked provincial bourgeoisie, who is also a hypocrite and an anti-Semite eager for gossip to fill the emptiness in his life.

The premiere of Myriam Muller's "Ivanov" will be held on Friday 28 February 2020 at 20:00 at the Grand Théâtre (Studio). Additional performances will take place at the same time and place on Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4, Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020. The play lasts approximately two and a half hours (no interval). Marc Rettel will introduce the play in French half an hour before each performance.

Tickets cost €20 for adults or €8 for young people. Entry with the Kulturpass is also welcome. For further information and ticketing, visit http://www.theatres.lu/SAISON+2019_2020/Th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre_Th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre+musical/_42+IVANOV/_42+IVANOV-p-20004576.html.