Photo Flash: UNCLE VANYA At Actors' Net

The Actors' NET of Bucks County is staging a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's masterwork, Uncle Vanya - performing Jan. 28 - Feb. 13 in the intimate Heritage Center theatre in Morrisville.

"Uncle Vanya is a dramatic comedy -- written in the 1880s and yet as relevant to our times as any other work being written today," explained Actors' NET Artistic Director Cheryl Doyle, who directs the production. "It is a passionate, thought- provoking piece. Our title character - Vanya - has toiled for years along with his niece, Sonya, to keep the family's estate going. Sonya's father arrives on the scene with a sexy young wife and the household is instantly disrupted.

"Simmering resentments spark fiery debates as topics from the trivial to the profound reveal secret desires and frustrations," Ms. Doyle noted. "We're thrilled to be presenting Jenny Covan's straightforward English translation of Chekhov's play, which was additionally adapted by actor George Hartpence, who plays the title character. I'm proud to add, parenthetically, that I had a bit of a hand in the adaptation as well."

Hartpence, of New Hope, is joined on the stage by DeLarme Landes of Doylestown, Cat Miller of Bristol, Alexa Newton of Yardley, Mort Paterson and Susan Blair of Philadelphia, David Bohn of Ewing and Elaine Good of Doylestown.