UNCLE VANYA

ANTON CHEKHOV

in a new translation by Francis Hardy

directed by Derek Cobley

"I can`t sleep at night for resentment at having so stupidly wasted my time - that time when I might have had everything which my age now denies me"

Following the intertwined lives of a family living in provincial Russia, Chekhov`s legendary play brilliantly illuminates the realities that must be faced when one is forced to look honestly at one`s own life.

Vanya and his niece Sonya have, for years, been managing the country estate of her father Professor Serebriakov. With his first wife dead, the Professor returns to the estate with his second wife, the young and beautiful Yelena. But the return proves to be a catalyst for tensions and resentments that have dramatic consequences.

Written in 1897, it asks questions of human nature that are both timeless and universal. Written with humour and sadness, Uncle Vanya is unmissable theatre.

Cast includes Lee Bane, Christopher Hale, Margaret Nicholls, Lauralee Nicole, Claire Novelli, Peter Reed, Peter Richards and Charlotte Rogers.

REVIEWS

Since being formed in the late nineties, Fluellen Theatre Company have built a reputation as a company that brings classical theatre alive. With this revival of Chekhov`s UNCLE VANYA they faced an arduous task, with a play that many theatregoers find "hard work" or "difficult to get".

Derek Cobley`s direction was sensitive and meticulous. Chekhov`s desire that plays should explore the internal complexities, as well as tell a story, was met through each confrontation between characters being beautifully choreographed. The stifling intensity of a play set in the garden of a country estate, was conveyed by actors who were expert at acting without words as well as with them.

Producing the play in the round meant that the audience were sucked into the dramatic tension. One minute we were laughing at Peter Read`s fastidious Serebryakov and the next we were near to tears with the sensitivity of his ignored daughter Sonya, played with a beautiful mix of innocence and furtive edginess by Lauralee Nicole.

In the lead role, Peter Richards was excellent as the frustrated Vanya. Annoyed by the return of his brother in law, Serebryakov, and convinced that if he had not been stuck running the estate with Sonya, he could have been equally famous as the retired professor, his resentment builds up into a confrontation where he attempts to shoot the annoying academic.

Charlotte Rogers played the part of the professor`s young wife with the sense that she was only just managing to control her repressed sexuality. Her exchanges with Astrov, played with zest and energy by Lee Bane, her husband and the unexpected advances of Vanya demonstrated what a versatile and excellent actress she is.

This was an excellent production with a strong cast in which actors playing minor roles, such as Telegin (Christopher Hale), Nanny (Claire Novelli) and Maria (Margaret Nicholls) all excelled.

RONA CAMPBELL Theatre-Wales.

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A rivetting production of an amazing play at the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl. It was presented in the small, basement performance space in this most welcoming of theatres, which added enormously to the feeling of claustrophobic hopelessness experienced by the majority of characters in Chekhov`s play. With the audience sitting all around the playing area and close enough to touch the actors, this proved to be a gripping theatrical experience.

Peter Richards in the title role was superb. His portrayal of a life wasted was truly believable. His hatred of Professor Serebryakov boiled over with his attempted shooting of the man, and his failure to accomplish this is accompanied by a hauntingly delivered, "There you are then, another failure". His love for the beautiful and much younger Yelena was beautifully played, and his final despairing scene with his niece Sonya (brilliantly played by Lauralee Nicole) was one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever seen in the theatre.

The rest of the cast was terrific, too. Peter Read as the smarmy professor, Charlotte Rogers as his beautiful wife, Lee Bane as the doctor, Astrov, who falls in love with Yelena. In the smaller roles, Margaret Nicholls, Christopher Hale and Claire Novelli all shone, particularly the latter, who played the Nurse (probably the only character in the play who is satisfied with their lot in life) beautifully.

Congratulations to Fluellen Theatre Company for presenting this wonderful play so well. I look forward to seeing their next productions.

JOHN PHILLIPS Theatre-Wales

GRAND THEATRE ARTS WING

Swansea

Tuesday 10th - Friday 13th May

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MORGANSTOWN HALL

Morganstown Nr Cardiff

Wednesday 4th May

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QUEENS HALL

Narberth

Thursday 19th May

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GRAND PAVILION

Porthcawl

Saturday 21st May