IRINA ARKADINA, an actress
 CONSTANTINE TREPLIEFF, her son
 PETER SORIN, her brother
 NINA ZARIETCHNAYA, a young girl, the daughter of a rich landowner
 ILIA SHAMRAEFF, the manager of SORIN'S estate
 PAULINA, his wife
 MASHA, their daughter
 BORIS TRIGORIN, an author
 EUGENE DORN, a doctor
 SIMON MEDVIEDENKO, a schoolmaster
 JACOB, a workman
 A COOK
 A MAIDSERVANT
The scene is laid on SORIN'S estate. Two years elapse between the third and fourth acts.