I don't often write about plays on here -- in fact I don't think I ever have before. But I went to see a new production of Chekhov's tragi-comic masterpiece a couple of nights ago and I liked it so much I thought I'd tell you about it.
Written in 1899, the play is set in an old estate in the depths of the Russian countryside. There live Uncle Vanya, an intelligent but disillusioned man in his 50s, his gentle, sweet-natured niece Sonya, his old mother, and various hangers on. A frequent visitor is the local doctor, Astrov, with whom Sonya is secretly in love. When the play begins, Sonya's father, a retired academic, has arrived for a visit with his beautiful young second wife Elena. The play explores the impact of their visit on the household, and its no exaggeration to say that this is pretty devastating. Both Vanya and Astrov fall in love with Elena, Sonya sees her hopes go up in smoke, the professor announces that he wants to sell the estate and buy a summer cabin in Finland. It all sounds rather depressing put like that, but in fact there is comedy there too, and the ending, though sad, is rather wonderful, as Sonya comforts her uncle with a vision of a glorious afterlife when all their hard work will be rewarded with rest.
This new production of the play is by the celebrated director Helena Kaut-Howsen, who also did the translation. The acting is superb -- it seems unfair really to single anybody out, but I particularly liked Simon Gregor as Astrov, Hara Yannas as Sonya, Marianne Oldham as Elena and Geoffrey Whitehead as the professor. The sets and costumes, by Sophie Jump, are wonderfully authentic, the music is haunting, the lighting is atmospheric -- what's not to like?
It's on at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry till Easter, and then moves to the Arcola Theatre in London. If you want to read more about it and see more photos, have a look on here. Or go and see it!
