Suffering, tension, destruction and idleness are the basis for many of Chekhov's simple yet masterful comedy-combined-tragedies, and Uncle Vanya is no exception. It is a story about an Uncle (Vanya) and a niece (Sonya) and their frustrated longings (unrequited love) and wasted lives, made apparent by the idle summer months and the arrival of Yelena's (Sonya's step-mother) charm and infectious indolence.
But, a play's potential drifts far beyond the pages of the author's script and lies in the hands of the director, actors and stage designers. Unfortunately the New York production of Uncle Vanya, performed at the intimate Classic Stage Company (CSC), fails on two fronts-- or perhaps even two and a half. The bounty of talents performing inculding, Denis O'Hare (as Uncle Vanya), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Yelena), Peter Sarsgaard (Dr. Astov) and Mammie Gummer (Meryl Streep's daughter who plays Sonya) did their best to keep this performance afloat. But the issue was not so much the actors as their misdirection by Austin Pedelton. While Mammie Gummer was a little jewel (thanks, more to her mother's direction than Mr. Pedelton!) as she subtly captures with immense humor and emotion the anguish and distress of Sonya's love-perdicatment, the competition was fierce between Denis O'Hare, Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The three indisputably talented actors never seemed to find their 'place' in the larger framework of the production--something that Pedelton could have easily put to rest with greater direction. From the very first scene where Dr. Astov enters languidly strumming a guitar, a discomforting tension hangs above the stage and production that is never fully resolved-- a pressure created by the exceedingly large and imposing stage design, not suitable at all for the small, intimate space of CSC. This could have been a brilliant production...but falls short.
I love your writing style. I wish you luck on keeping this going. I still want to see this play though maybe we can go see it together if I ever get to come visit you!
ReplyDeleteAt the performance I attended, I sat in the front row and thought for sure the swing would hit me. What was with the swing?
ReplyDeleteThe woman next me, Of A Certain Age, and with a much younger friend, loudly and quite adamently said, at the intermission, "Well, I HATE the translation." Mmmm. Maggie looked really peeved at the (short) 'curtain' call (there is none @ CSC) Then again, someone's cell phone went off not once but TWICE during a speech of hers. COME ON, PEOPLE, leave the phones at home!!!