Andrei Tarkovsky, the renowned Russian director who died in 1986, is said to have left Russia to find it.

Americans are baffled by Russian directors who stage plays of varying obscurity.

At this time, he also began his work as assistant and interpreter to Russian directors working in the US.

Konstantin Stanislavsky, the Russian director and acting theorist, urged actors to behave as if the action were actually taking place at the time of performance.

Foolish, perhaps, but not atypical for a Russian director.

Russian directors, screenwriters and actors have long wanted to reclaim their literary history from the confections created abroad.

"All those who try to 'act' or 'pretend' when taking part in Chekhov's plays are making a sad mistake," the Russian director said.

The great Russian director Stanislavsky said that the purpose of technique was to free the talent.

In fact, the Russian director cautioned against trying to "act" Chekhov's plays.

If only people knew what torment Russian directors go through when they take their shows abroad and have to cut the production to three hours.