Leave Me Alone!

by Paul Michael Thomson

Nik Ivanov is broke. His wife is dying. He’s losing his bid for reelection. And he might be gay. But at least he has his looks! Leave Me Alone! is a contemporary, queer adaptation of Anton Chekhov's most unloved play, Ivanov. It’s about labels, identity, advice, Chekhov’s gun, and how none of that matters when you’re depressed…except perhaps the gun.

Nik Ivanov is broke. His wife is dying. He’s losing his bid for reelection. And he might be gay. But at least he has his looks! Leave Me Alone! is a contemporary, queer adaptation of Anton Chekhov's most unloved play, Ivanov. It’s about labels, identity, advice, Chekhov’s gun, and how none of that matters when you’re depressed…except perhaps the gun.

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Leave Me Alone!

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  • Shaun Leisher: Leave Me Alone! by Paul Michael Thomson
    “

    Really fresh take on Chekhov. Stays true to the heart of the original while completely modernizing and subverting it. Brilliant use of the Chekhov’s Gun motif!!

    Really fresh take on Chekhov. Stays true to the heart of the original while completely modernizing and subverting it. Brilliant use of the Chekhov’s Gun motif!!

    ”
  • Nick Malakhow: Leave Me Alone! by Paul Michael Thomson
    “

    Paul Michael Thomson succeeds in honoring and subverting Chekhov's source material in an interesting way, while also creating a whole new theatrical universe that is compelling and dynamic. I was impressed with how defined and distinct the members of the large ensemble were from one another, and the queering of Nik's, Love's, and Sam's characters from their Chekhovian predecessors added potent nuances to their feelings of despair, isolation, alienation, desire, and jealousy. The structural motif of opening scenes with quotations has a poignant payoff in the final act. I'd love to see this...

    Paul Michael Thomson succeeds in honoring and subverting Chekhov's source material in an interesting way, while also creating a whole new theatrical universe that is compelling and dynamic. I was impressed with how defined and distinct the members of the large ensemble were from one another, and the queering of Nik's, Love's, and Sam's characters from their Chekhovian predecessors added potent nuances to their feelings of despair, isolation, alienation, desire, and jealousy. The structural motif of opening scenes with quotations has a poignant payoff in the final act. I'd love to see this piece on its feet!

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    ”
It is important to the playwright that this cast reflects the world we live in, i.e. diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender performance, sexuality, differing abilities, etc.
Dr. Love must be played by a woman of color, preferably a queer woman of color.

Development History

  • Workshop, The Story Theatre, 2017

Production History

  • Professional, The Story Theatre, 2018

Awards

  • Favorite 'Under the Radar' Plays of 2018
    The Heath Fund
    Selection
    2018