First performed at the National Theatre in 1984. Acclaimed by critics “sparkling and highly performable”, “A brilliant piece of theatre bearing the stigmata of genius”. It is Chekhov as never seen before. Frayn’s sure instincts for farce are unmistakable.

Platonov is a kind of early Norman of Ayckbourn’s Norman Conquests. He sees a woman (she doesn’t have to be pretty) and he reacts instinctively. He ends up with her on his lap having arranged to meet another in the wood shed and to elope with a third. Then the up train hoves into view… literally!!!