Review: UNCLE VANYA at Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre Company: Misery Meets Magical

You know what I love about Brigit St Brigit Theatre Company? It is unique. It is a 'horse of a different color.' This theatre chooses works that tend to be a bit more complex...a bit outside of the lighthearted entertainment realm. When I leave, I feel just a little bit smarter. Plus! Their venues are cool and unusual. Take, for instance, BSB's production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA playing at Omaha's Joslyn Castle. Just walking up to the place is like entering a fairy tale illusion. And sitting amongst the actors draws me in like nothing else. I am a part of it.

UNCLE VANYA is the second of four plays penned by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. This 1897-98 "theatre of mood" two act play opens with Alexander Serebryakov (Dan Ryberg), a retired elderly professor suffering from gout and a bad disposition, and his 27 year old trophy wife, Elena (Leanne Hill Carlson) living at the country estate left to Sonya, the Professor's daughter by his deceased first wife. Whew! Therein begins a tangled web of relationships and frustrations.

Disgruntled Uncle Vanya (Scott Working), brother of Professor Serebryakov's first wife, has been running the estate and funneling the proceeds to him with no thanks. He resents the Professor and envies him, particularly for his young wife. Since their arrival, Vanya's given up and spends his time eating, sleeping, wining and whining and pining for the lovely Elena.

Sonya (Melanie Sarkesian), the Professor's hardworking daughter who happens to be about the same age as her stepmother Elena, spends her days worrying about harvesting the hay, mollifying flaring tempers, and longing for the attentions of Doctor Astrov (Chris Shonka.) Astrov doesn't notice the somewhat plain Sonya, having eyes only for lovely Elena. Elena suffers from boredom and her ill suited marriage to an old man, and is tempted by the attentions of the magnetic doctor. Astrov's other loves are vodka and the forest---one diminishes the pain of living and the other is diminished by the living.

On the fringes, Vanya's mother, Maria Voynitsky (Charleen J. B. Willoughby), is a disillusioned woman who bemoans the inability of a man to stick to his convictions and adores the self-proclaimed intellectual Professor. "Principles are a dead letter unless you act upon them, " she declares as no one in the estate takes action on anything. Permanent guest Illya Telegin (Brent Spencer), nicknamed "Waffles" for his acne scarred face that scared away his wife of 24 hours, provides sporadic relief from the moping about of the others with his guitar playing.

Finally, there is Marina (Sue Mouttet), nanny for many years who observes, says little, and knits together the mundane routine of the household.

Who is happy? Well, no one.

There is humor, but it is humor born of unhappiness and our recognition of ourselves in the characters. We either laugh at the self-deprecation of the people or we laugh because we've been guilty of the same. This is not a play where something "happens." There is no real climax. It's a slice of Russian life that translates to modern America because people are the same throughout the ages and across the continents.

This stellar cast under the able direction of Cathy Kurz perfectly carries out Chekhov's desire for naturalism. They do not overact. There is no melodrama or big gestures. They feel the emotion and it is exposed. This is stripped down genuine humanity and it is truly special.

"Remove everything that has no relevance to the story." - Anton Chekhov

Photo Credits: Scott Kurz (photo of Uncle Vanya with the roses), PeytonPlays Photography (black and white images)

To post a comment, you must register and login.