The magic of love and the theater mingle in this landmark work by the great Russian dramatist Chekov, called “the gentlest of and most impersonal of all the great modern dramatists” by Robert Brustein of the American Repertory Theater.

Directed by Paul Kuritz, professor of theater at Bates, and translated by Anna Dunnigan, the Bates production features senior Catherine Kemp of Wellesely, Mass., as Arkadina; sophomore Adam Thompson of South Portland as Treplev; Jeremy Sewell, a first-year student from Warren as Sorin; senior Darcy Donald of Falmouth as Nina; junior Brendan Phalan of Boston, Mass., as Shamrayev; sophomore Kristen Calvin of Mansfield, Mass., as Polina; Susan Schaffer, a first-year student from Berwyn, Pa., as Masha; junior Jay Pringle of Decatur, Ga., as Trigorin; Sumner Andrews, a first-year student from Berkeley Heights, N.J., as Dorn; John Ambrosino, a first-year student from Avon, Mass., as Medvedenko; sophomore Robert Williams of Westfield, Mass., as Yakov; Duncan Murdoch, a first-year student from Shelburne, Vt., as the Cook and Chloe Lara-Russack of Burlington, Vt., as the Housemaid.

Next in the Theater at Bates series is “Abundance” by Beth Henley, March 13, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. in Gannett Theater.