Arkadina, a successful and famous actress, is spending the summer on her brother Sorin's country estate, accompanied by her younger lover, a successful and famous novelist, Trigorin.
Her son, Konstantin, himself an aspiring writer, has written a play which is to be performed by Nina, daughter of a neighbouring landowner, with whom he is rapturously in love. The performance mystifies the spectators and Konstantin is enraged by the frivolous attitude of his mother.
Masha, the daughter of the estate steward, Shamrayev, is secretly in love with Konstantin, but she in turn is loved by Medvedenko, the village schoolteacher. She confesses her feelings to Doctor Dorn, who himself has secretly been the lover of her mother, Polina.
Nina's feeling for Trigorin changes from admiration to adoration. Konstantin, anguished by the withdrawal of Nina's feeling for him attempts to commit suicide. Trigorin reciprocates Nina's passion, and she decides to go to Moscow to become a professional actress. She and Trigori arrange to meet there. The visitors leave.
Two years pass. Everyone is back at the estate. Konstantin has achieved some of his literary ambitions. Masha and Medvedenko are married. Trigorin has resumed his relationship with Arkadina, having ended his affair with Nina, who is now a struggling actress touring the provinces. Nina returns briefly to the neighbourhood, and while the others are at supper, Nina and Konstantin meet again.
