Review: UNCLE VANYA (Mermaids Cast)

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) wrote plays more character-heavy than plot-heavy, with unhappy Russians bemoaning their past and current plights. As a result, productions must be cast with actors who understand internal character motivation and insights (or lack thereof). Antaeus' latest production of a Chekhov play is "Uncle Vanya," (from 1898), in a West Coast premiere of the 2012 translation by esteemed American playwright Annie Baker, double cast as always (this one is The Mermaids).

Baker, a rising young writer, would seem to be a good choice for Chekhov, as she is very willing to let his plays breathe at their own speed, with her blend of artlessness and exactitude, and her attention to the necessary pauses and ellipticals in the speech.

In the play, Vanya (Don R. McManus), brother-in-law to Professor Serebryakov (Lawrence Pressman), leads an unfulfilled life, running his estate with his niece, Sonya (Rebekah Tripp), but bored out of his mind. When her self-centered father returns with a new, much-younger wife, Yela (Linda Park), Vanya falls hard for her, much to Yelena's consternation (along with everyone else).

Vanya's mother, Maria (Anne Gee Byrd), dotes on the pretentious professor, making life even more difficult for her son. His best friend, Astrov (Jeffrey Nordling), has a love-hate relationship with Vanya and tries to get him over this puppy-love hump in his life, plying him with alcohol. To no avail. Even Nanny Marina (Lynn Milgrim), who dotes on her former students, can't accept Vanya's behavior.

Naturally, nothing good comes of this infatuation, allowing Chekhov his "comic tragedy."

Director Robin Larsen has a firm grip on the pacing of the play, guiding her two casts into strong explorations of character, using mood and frustrations to great results. Pressman, Park, Tripp, McManus and Nordling all have their work on prominent display here, along with Byrd, Milgrim, and musicians Morlan Higgins as Telegin and Paul Baird as Yefim. Antaeus seldom has laggard-actors onstage in anything, bless their hearts.

Antaeus' somewhat cramped stage has been well-opened by designer Michael B. Raiford, with excellent sightlines and attractive backdrop, furniture and props. However, in keeping with Baker's updating of the dialogue (using a translation from the Russian original by Margarita Shalina), the decision to utilize contemporary costume pieces, while not jarring exactly, didn't help set the period very well (Jocelyn Hublau Parker, designer), especially when the dialogue excludes the Internet and cellphones, but discusses the shoeing of horses. Somewhat unsettling, it was.

But for lovers of Russian classics, and for lovers of updating dialogue, this is an excellent production, which should be seen.

Uncle Vanya runs through December 6th at Antaeus, 5112 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood 91601. Tickets: 818.506.1983 or www.Antaeus.org.