work
The Theatrical Sparrow (Shcheglov)
The Theatrical Sparrow
also: Театральный воробей, Teatralny Vorobey
A comedy by Ivan Shcheglov, in progress at the time of this letter; Chekhov asks Shcheglov to send it to him and, taking its existence as a sign Shcheglov has really written a comedy, urges him to keep writing freely by his own inner feeling.
Reading notes
- To I. L. Leontyev, 18 July 1888. Feodosia. §5 The Theatrical Sparrow
"Teatralny Vorobey," a comedy Ivan Shcheglov was reportedly writing at this time; Chekhov asks to see it and, taking Shcheglov at his word that he has finished a comedy, encourages him to keep writing across genres by instinct rather than by others' opinions.
- To I. L. Leontyev, 14 August 1888. Sumy. §7 "The Theatrical Sparrow"
One of Shcheglov's plays, which Chekhov here asks to be sent to him at the Moscow address of Dr. Ya. A. Korneyev, continuing the running critical dialogue about Shcheglov's playwriting begun with "The Gordian Knot".
- To I. L. Leontyev, 2 November 1888. Moscow. §6 As for "The Theatrical Sparrow," it looks, it seems, like it will go on
Shcheglov's comedy "The Theatrical Sparrow" (Театральный воробей), which Chekhov is here trying to place at Korsh's theater -- a Shcheglov work, not one of Chekhov's own, distinct from "The Power of Hypnotism" in \S9, which Chekhov proposes to write himself.
- To I. L. Leontyev, 7 November 1888. Moscow. §7 Put on "The Sparrow Theater"
Shcheglov's comedy, called "The Theatrical Sparrow" in (\S6), abbreviated here to "The Sparrow Theater"; the same play Chekhov reported was likely to go on at Korsh's theater after speaking with Korsh himself.
- To I. L. Leontyev, 11 November 1888. Moscow. §9 "The Theatrical Sparrow"
Shcheglov's own play, already established in and as an ongoing placement effort with the theater manager Korsh and the actor Solovtsov.
- To I. L. Leontyev, 11 November 1888. Moscow. §10 "The Sparrow,"
Most likely refers back to Shcheglov's own "The Theatrical Sparrow" mentioned one paragraph earlier (\S9), with Chekhov dropping the fuller title for the joke list; tagged to the same work entity, though the identification is contextual rather than made explicit in the source.
- To I. L. Leontyev, 16–17 November 1888. Moscow. §4 we'll have a thorough talk about the sparrow
"The sparrow" ("воробье") is shorthand for Shcheglov's play "The Theatrical Sparrow," already established as in,, and, and still under ongoing placement discussion with Solovtsov and the theater manager Korsh.
- To I. L. Leontyev, 20 December 1888. Moscow. §3 They'll put on "The Sparrow Theater" too
"Театр воробья" (here "The Sparrow Theater") is the same Shcheglov play already established as (elsewhere called "The Theatrical Sparrow"/"the sparrow") in,, and; its placement with Korsh's theater is now confirmed as going forward.