REVIEW: Uncle Vanya
Chekhov’s plays, like Shakespeare’s, are essential to the theater canon. His oeuvre isn’t as deep as Shakespeare’s, of course, but it is rich and thus open to multiple revivals. Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Uncle Vanya is satisfying in every way. Directed by the white-hot Lila Neugebauer, it has an all-star cast which brings the play to life.
The success of the production starts with a new translation and adaptation by Heidi Schreck, who won acclaim for her play, What the Constitution Means to Me. She has worked as a teacher and journalist in St. Petersburg, so she’s well-versed in Russian language and culture. The dialogue, while true to Chekhov’s theme, is contemporary, sometimes vulgar vernacular, as are the costumes. Staged in the semi-round with a minimalist set, Neugebauer creates a seamless flow among the actors onstage.
And what a group of actors it is, led by Steve Carell, who’s come a long way from his days in “The Office.” His Vanya is prolix, passionate, and resentful of his brother-in-law Alexander for sacrificing his own happiness for Alexander’s career as author and professor. Three-time Tony nominee Alfred Molina plays the pompous Alexander in what is a relatively small role. A far more important one is the doctor and environmentalist, Astrov, played William Jackson Harper, whose work I wasn’t familiar with, largely based Off-Broadway, with a couple of critically-acclaimed television roles (for “The Underground Railroad” and “The Good Place”). His performance is beautifully layered, combining idealism with a penchant for drink.
Astrov is the source of attraction to Alexander’s daughter Sonia, who’s worked hard, along with Vanya, maintaining the family farm. As Sonia, the outstanding young theater, film, and television actress Alison Pill gives a heartbreaking performance of unrequited love. Astrov has a more complicated relationship with Alexander’s second wife Elena, who’s drawn to him physically, but not willing to give up her older husband. Also an object of desire for Vanya, Elena personifies beauty and boredom, yet Anika Noni Rose (the dazzling Tony winner for Caroline, or Change) never seems superficial. Filling out the cast are Broadway stalwarts Jayne Houdyshell and Jonathan Hadary, along with Mia Katigbak, in strong minor roles.
The complicated, but clearly understood, dynamics are a Chekhov trademark, enhanced by Neugebauer’s direction, and the lighting, scenic, and sound design. The first act, set outdoors, features a backdrop of large trees and a rainstorm, which emphasizes the stormy relationships. As Elena puts it:
“Something is wrong in this house. Your mom only cares about politics and fawning over my
husband. Alexander’s irritated all the time, he doesn’t trust me and he’s afraid of you. Sonia’s
mad at her father, she’s mad at me—she hasn’t spoken to me in two weeks. You hate my
husband and you’re mean to your mother—and I’m constantly on edge—I almost burst into tears
twenty times today. It’s the house, I’m telling you, something is wrong—”
Beyond the family relationships, there’s the relationship with nature. Astrov’s avocation is planting trees. Elena comments to Sonia, “When he plants a little tree, he’s dreaming about what it will become in a hundred years, he’s creating the future.” The environmental theme couldn’t be more timely. Astrov himself has created pictures showing the climate change:
“The moose have made a small comeback, sure, but now the wood grouse have disappeared and the cottontails are almost extinct and the porcupines and the butterflies and the piping plover—and basically all of the old growth forests. What we’re looking at here is a picture of relentless destruction that just keeps speeding up, and in ten maybe twenty years—total obliteration.”
As with The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull, the threat of change to a way of life is present in Uncle Vanya. It’s Chekhov’s genius to make those qualities resonate today and Neugebauer’s skill to make them especially palpable. She earned good reviews for her first film, Causeway (starring Jennifer Lawrence) and raves for Appropriate, a certain Tony nominee for Best Play. It’s likely she’ll get a second nomination for Uncle Vanya as Best Revival. It closes on June 16, so grab tickets while you can.
Photo by Marc J. Franklin