Customer Reviews

Good Doctor, The

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Neil Simon molds the stories of Anton Chekhov into exquisitely timed, often hilarious theatre, dramatizing seven stories which incorporate a wide variety of characters--a governess, a lady of the night, a blustering general, a wild woman with a nervous disorder, a roué flirting with a new bride, a man who earns money by "drowning," and an actress. The stories, adapted for the stage, are filled with dry humor, surprise endings, and clever common people in confrontations with "superiors," ending in absurdities. "The Writer," obviously Chekhov, who himself was a "good doctor," acts as narrator and serves to connect the various scenes.

The short stories/plays, all filled with irony, include "The Sneezer," who cannot apologize enough to a general for splattering a sneeze on his head. In "The Governess," an employer tricks a subservient governess out of her pay. "The Seduction" shows a man-about-town using a husband as the conduit for his attempted seduction of the man's new bride. "The Drowned Man" claims to be in the "maritime entertainment business" and will drown himself for a small fee. "The Defenseless Creature," a particularly hilarious scene, features a clever wife suffering from a "nervous disorder," who tries to extort money from a banker. In "The Arrangement" a father takes his shy, 19-year-old son to a house of ill repute.

The most challenging scene for an actor is "The Audition." An actress who has walked for four days from another city in order to try out for a play, arrives with a temperature of 103, then insists on doing the audition. Playing the parts of all three sisters from Chekhov's The Three Sisters, the actress begins as a sensitive sister, then bursts into tears on cue as the second sister, and ultimately becomes rational, composed, and straightforward as the third, the changes of mood requiring split second timing.

Throughout the play, a running joke revolves around Chekhov's reputation as a less "beloved" writer than Tolstoy and Turgenev. Often dealing with suffering characters, the scenes show that there is a kind of absurd humor underlying even the most tragic of circumstances. Though "Some of us are indeed trapped," and many are suffering, the world itself, according to Chekhov, has "gone mad." If one can see the humor in this mad world, life becomes bearable. Mary Whipple

Last year my high school put on this show and I had the duty of playing both the general and the banker at the end. This was by far the funnest show I was a part of. I think this is probably among the funniest neil simon show up there with the odd couple and rumors which I also was able to perform in as Lenny Ganz. If you are looking for something fun to perform look no farther because you found it right here.

An absolutely enchanting play from Neil Simon based on works of Chekov. The stories here are humorous, touching, sad, but most of all, real. The Writer is a character to remember as are others presented by him. If not this incarnation, find some way to attain a copy of The Good Doctor. It is a play to be cherished.

A few friends and myself did "The Defenseless Creature" for a drama/large group speech contest. I was Pochatikin, so had very little to do other than keep myself from breaking out laughing during the performance! Needless to say, we did VERY WELL at contest recieving a perfect score!

"The Good Doctor (play 1973 Broadway archive, PBS TV 78, DVD2002, 90min)" a classic play adapted to stage and film; Anton Chekhov, writer; Neil Simon, adaptation screenplay. An homage to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, 19th Century Russian, world's most prolific short story (dare-I-say: pulp fiction) writer his era. Later, Chekhov writes 4 classical plays, directed Russian Stanislavsky's "Method" emotive acting technique, taught worldwide.

Neil Simon (1927- , 46yrs) won the Pulizer Prize for the play "Lost in Yonkers (91, 64yrs)," after having written 30 plays before. Simon is a playwright on "popular topic" themes. This is his first and only play as homage to Chekhov, a popular Russian short story writer during 19th Century, one of the world's most prolific (dare-I-say: pulp fiction) writers of his era. Chekhov later upgrades his talent writing 4 classical plays for the world stage and directed by Stanislavsky "The Method" emotive acting technique, which becomes the European Gold standard and is now taught world-wide.

A classic produced by many community college theatres and high school drama depts Simon's "The Good Doctor" annually, see it as an alternative billing at Shakepherian festivals nationwide. Nowhere are original Chekhov stories referenced by Simon; but Reviewer includes for film school aficionados after significant academic research.

Act1Sc1 "Writer (prologue)" Simon introduces comic playwright Antosha Chekhonte, his early pseudonym. Chekhov, from poor merchant family, grew up southern Ukraine, near Black Sea, mouth Volga River. Attending Moscow Univ Medical School scholarship (1879-1884), needs money support bankrupt parents+five. Earns royalties writing short stories Moscow/StPetersburg newspaper humor columns magazines, becoming famous Russia at 25yrs over 500 Shorts. With brevity required publishers, only fraction translated English. Many are public domain, downloadable free from Gutenberg/ GoogleBook projects.

Act1Sc2 "The Sneeze." Small-time city clerk attends play when department head, General, wife sits front Cherdyakov wife. He hopes make good impression boss for promotion reasons. He suddenly gives monumental sneeze, covering back boss's head with snot.

Ivan Ilyitch Cherdyakov, Asst Chief Clerk, Bureau Public Parks, Dept Trees & Bushes, idiotically, makes it "federal" case, even when bosses' boss, Gen'l Mikhail Brassilhov, Minister Public Parks, says forget it. Cherdyakov gets worked up, he dies.

Original short story: "The Death of a Government Clerk" in APC, transl Constance Garnett, "Love and Other Stories" in the series "The Tales of Chekhov, Vol13," Macmillian.

Act1Sc3 "The Governess" Mistress teaches Julia, governess (babysitter) how she is going to cheat/robbed servant wages.

From 40 rubles/mo to 10 rubles final; deducting for impossibly high verbal offer, no work Sundays, birthday & holidays, not teaching both children, child is sick, sick leave due to toothache, saucer breakage, child climbing tree ripping jacket, day dreaming, advance against future wages, uncounted money. Simpleton servant; a hilarious skit.

Original short story: "The Ninny (Feb 1883)," in APC, transl Robert Payne (U Liverpool), "The Image of Chekhov: 40 stories," Knopf.

Act1Sc6 "The Seduction" Chekhov teaches how ladies' man can prey on attractive young wives through their prominent, successful, powerful husband. Initially ignore Irena the target, profferizing husband Nikolaich.

A wise and witty tale about marriage, fidelity, and art seducing married woman. As married woman, slyly clever Irena beats Pyotr Semyonych at his own game.

Multiple tales on Peter's scenes on peeking her interest and winning her indirectly. His method is ingenious: he tells woman's husband his envy, knowing he will dutifully report his wife. Final offer is immortalizing painting wife's portrait. Plans over 2-3wks laying scenarios thick and heavy, turning wife into ambivalent yet passionate angel. Slyly Peter lays meeting, preying on curiosity and loneliness, to public garden 8PM rendezvous.

Meeting Peter, Irena delivers soliloquy, 1-page angelic portrait, tormented by him, arousing passion. But such an attack my vulnerability, if I leave my husband though, it is forever. I will become your devoted love; you must take care of my passion, also forever.

Original short story: "Boa Constrictor and Rabbit (1887)," in APC, transl Avrahm Yarmolinsky, "The Unknown Chekhov: stories and other writings," Minerva.

Act2Sc1 "The Drowned Man" Writer meets an expert at "drowning" for public amusement. He will drown (if paid for it). A constable says 3 rubles too high; 60 kopecks is it. Finally bargain struck; but Writer forgets name Savior drinking in bar.

Original short story: "Drowning (1885)," p73-7(4pgs), in APC, transl Avrahm Yarmolinsky.

Act2Sc2 "The Audition" Fledgling actress-to-be comes from country to big city stage, "reads" the finale "The Three Sisters (1900)," one Chekhov's four most famous plays.

Nina Mikhailovna Zarechnaya, a wannabe 22-yr-old actress, comes after 6+3 months on audition waitlist. Trained Mme Zoblienska, Odessa, she traveled 4 days on foot. Acts ending soliloquy sisters, Masha, Irina and Olga. We must live, work.

Skit was written Neil Simon as Sisters was one Chekhov's last works before dying. In real life, Simon first meets Marsha Mason (1942- ) during audition 1973 Broadway production at last moment, after first choice declines. They marry before end season.

Unspoken homage, Chekhov's 1901 late marriage to founding actress Olga Knipper (1868-1959), Moscow Art Theatre (1898), performing: "Seagull(1896),Uncle Vanya(1900),ThreeSisters(1901)." APC wrote middle sister character Masha expressly for Olga, then marries.

Skit inspired Neil Simon, "The Play Goes On: memoir," Simon&Shuster.

Act2Sc3 "The Defenseless Creature" half-mad old wife Shtchukin who trys extorting money from stuffy, sick banker Kistunov, manages terrifying him. She rambles family troubles, brings out chicken. Demands 24 rubles, 36 kopecks refund from husband's employer. Jewish Mother; then Witch's curse.

Original short story: "A Defenceless Creature (1887)," in APC, "The Horse-Stealers and other Stories" in "The Tales of Chekhov, Vol 10,"

Act2Sc4 "The Arrangement" Father arranges 19-year only son Antosha first sex, instead groping young maidens, with "knowledgeable" woman. Father has high expectations rite passage.

Father negotiates 'Tute's initial 30 rubles, imploring B-day gift, bargains 10 rubles his past, finally 20 ruble deal struck. Woman use compassion, gentleness. Finally realizes that his boy will turn man once mounts stairs. Wait! more birthdays come, lets get umbrella instead.

Shorts "Surgery(1884)" Pitcher or Payne (toothache neophyte dental asst) and musical "Too Late for Happiness" (elderly widows);

This play was absolutely fantastic. Our school - Wawasee High School- put this show on last week, and I was honored to be a part of it. I played the voice of the writer in the scene "The Audition" and enjoyed doing it very much! Please buy this, you will love it. Especially if you enjoy Chekhov's works.

They put this play on at my school, and I was laughing the whole way through, especially in the "War" section with the Army and the Navy. Oh who am I kidding, THE WHOLE THING was that funny. You will never regret buying this, it is a buried treasure to literature just waiting to be performed, or read, with enthusiastic gusto!

As performers in a theatre production group we have thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to read such a masterful and insightful work as Simon"s " The Good Doctor". It is a rare blend of the writers riotous humour and a dry incisive socially poignant commentary worthy only of Chekov.

I had the honor of being a part of a production of this play. I found the woman in the scene called "The Defencless Creature" most enjoyable. She had heart and soul. And was very funny. She was your typical crazy loud nut case. But she stole the show. I was amazed at how funny she was. And the actress who portrayed her was brilliant!

im am a 10th grader and my high school just put on THE GOOD DOCTOR i was the man in the DOWENED MAN its was great my favroit is the DEFFENSLES CREATUR. great
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