(N.B.: The verses below treat only the first play in Chekhov's so-called "Fruits & Veggies" trilogy. The second and third dramas in his series, "La Pear e MusTARD" and "The Berry/ColLARD," will be featured and discussed in later poems.)
Note
world-weary playwright Sir Noël Cow-
ARD,
who
who
not only penn'd 'em: in sev'ral he
STARR'D.
Then
check out top dramatist Czech Tom Stop-
PARD.
Full
Full
five of Tom's plays earn'd a Tony A-
WARD.
No
playwright but poet, Pierre de Ron-
SARD
from
lists of tragedians ought to be
BARR'D.
How-
ever, tragedian Albee, Ed-
WARD
made
hay in the Theatre mis-named Ab-
SARD.
An
Irish librettist was Shaw, George Ber-
NARD.
His
spellings -- eccentric -- caught readers off-
GUARD.
An
actor IN, author OF plays...? Sam Shep-
PARD.
In
In
both fields his work's held in highest re-
GARD.
Most
famous by far, tho'...? Will Shakespeare -- the
BARD.
His
true name's uncertain; his plays live, un-
SCARR'D.
(I'll
sing not of Gilbert the ur-Savo-
YARD
who with
frenemy Sullivan skirmish'd 'n'
SPARR'D.
Nor De-
pardieu, Gerard -- no, nor Cyril Rich-
ARD.
to
pose that pair playwrights would prove a ca-
NARD.
Did
someone cite Shemp, Moe or Curly How-
ARD...?
One
might as well mention Pierre Abe-
LARD...
which
leads me to Chekhov's "The Cherry or
CHARD?"
where's
proffer'd a choice -- tho' that choice isn't
HARD.
All
chaps choosin' 'cherry' best be on their
GUARD.
If
facin' such query, I'll choose to choose
'CHARD.'
