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Published August 20, 2008
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Uncle Vanya Searches For Happiness In the Hills Of Orinda
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| By Sophie Braccini |
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| (left to right) Howard Swain as Ilya Telegin, Andy Murray as Astrov and Dan Hiatt as Vanya Photo Kevin Berne |
I had some memories of Chekhov from my high school years; in France where I was raised, Russian literature is quite beloved. We had studied the Cherry Orchard and my memory was of nostalgia, beauty and the difficulty for privileged people to adapt to new times. I loved this diving into the Russian psyche, the feelings of longing and despair that permeated the beautiful text. I was not disappointed by Cal Shakes production of Uncle Vanya.
The sumptuous natural setting of the Bruns Amphitheater suits Chekhov. He, who was said not to have liked academic staging, must be rejoicing in his grave. The stage is linked to the hills behind it with stalks of wheat, and the night I was there, when the silence fell on the public and the first character entered the stage, she was greeted by a concert of cows mooing and birds singing in the distance. The illusion of an isolated country estate was immediately created.
“Uncle Vanya” talks about unfulfilled aspirations, regrets and bleak expectations for the future. As the play develops, characters are revealed, lost illusions emerge and even the most grandiose aspirations are dissolved in the impossibility to find happiness. Each of the characters come close to reaching it, the spectators are drawn to their search as they see them unable to recognize and seize the opportunities life presents to them. All the possibilities for happiness crisscross without ever coincide. With such a pessimistic view of life, you might think the evening would turn to be a bit depressing, but not in the least. Director Timothy Near and the cast bring out the irony that runs through the text and there are many humorous moments bringing laughter into the night.
When Chekhov was played in tsarist Russia, his contemporaries used to present a very dark vision of his work, when the author is said to have insisted he wrote comedies not dramas. It is obviously the angle chosen by Near. The character of Ylya Telegin played by Howard Swain is a kind of jester, his fun and shifted behavior adds a lightness to the play. The humorous bias of the staging is, in my opinion, a bit overdone at times. Even the talented Dan Hiatt who plays Vanya overuses his slapstick abilities toward the end of the play. He gives none the less a very convincing rendition of Vanya, and his duet and dancing with Andy Murray who plays the seductive doctor Astrov is a moment of great delight. The entire cast is very solid with James Carpenter playing the selfish and self-absorbed professor Serebryakov, charming Sarah Grace Wilson playing his beautiful young wife, Barbara Oliver as down-to-earth nanny Marina, and Joan Mankin as Maria Voynitsky. My favorite was Vanya’s niece Sonya, as performed by Annie Purcell. The young actress touches the right emotional notes, never under or overstated, totally lovable.
To enjoy this touching tragi-comedy, plan to arrive in the parking area off Highway 24 an hour ahead of time with a picnic. Up the short walk, tables are available to accommodate diners. Food and drinks are available for purchase as well. About 40 minutes before the play, a docent will offer an interesting short historical perspective on the play. In the theater, blankets are available to protect you against the very cool evening winds. Some spectators went up with their ski jackets and warm blankets, and don’t forget your gloves, theater under the stars can become chilly around 10 p.m. UncleVanya will run through August 31st, for information and reservations go to: www.calshakes.org. Box Office: 510-548-9666. |
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| Annie Purcell as Sonya and Andy Murray as Astrov Photo Kevin Berne |
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| Reach Sophie Braccini at: sophie@lamorindaweekly.com |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA