Query on Chekhov

[Robert A. Rothstein]

Daniel Rancour-Laferriere wrote:

>Is it true that Chekhov said "If a gun is hanging on the wall in the first
>act, it must go off in the last"?  And if so, where did he say/write
>it?  (I've already checked Bartlett's, Krylatye slova, etc.).


I haven't had a chance to check the reference, but according to Stacy G.
Langton of the Mathematical Association of America (sic! -- see http:
www.maa.org/reviews/harmonic.html):

>The actual quote from Chekhov is, "One can't put a loaded gun on the stage if
no one plans to fire it." From a letter to >Lazarev-Gruzinsky, [1 November]
1889; see Peter M. Bitsilli, Chekhov's Art: A stylistic analysis, Ardis, 1983
(ISBN: >0-88233-489-1), p. 42.

    Bob Rothstein

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                  http://home.attbi.com/~lists/seelangs/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------