Uncle Vanya Review

Uncle Vanya

(Minerva Theatre, Chichester)

Like Salisbury Playhouse, the Chichester has put on some strong productions during the last few years. The difference being that it attracts some well known actors, actresses and directors, and a number of its productions have transferred to the West End, such as the currently residing Singin' in the Rain and Sweeney Todd. As a starter to its 2012 festival I was therefore looking forward to seeing Anton Chekov's Uncle Vanya for the first time, starring last year's Laurence Olivier Award winner Roger Allam, and Timothy West.

Professor Serebryakov (Timothy West) returns to his first wife's house in the countryside, along with his second wife, Yelena (Lara Pulver), and his daughter from his first marriage, Sonya (Dervla Kirwan). The estate has been maintained by Vanya (Roger Allam), the brother of the professor's first wife for many years, along with the rest of his family and servants. All the characters regret the position they are in, whilst sexual tensions arise between Vanya, Yelena and the local doctor, Astrov (Alexander Hanson). Conflicts come to a head when the Professor announces his plan to sell the estate.

For his first entrance Roger Allam lumbering onstage suffering from a hangover with his hair unkempt, showing his misery after many years taking care of the estate for the Professor, whom he hates. His mannerisms are perfect for this melancholic character, as he wearily makes sneering remarks about the Professor. Elsewhere he flirts with Yelena like a hormone driven adolescent. After the Professor makes the announcement he tears apart some roses and lets the petals fall through his hands to the ground, before bursting out in anger at his plan. Lara Pulver first appears as Yelena like an enigma as she goes into the house in pure white without saying a word. As the play progresses she becomes overcome by the attention she was receiving from the men. Dervla Kirwan  a modest yet compassionate Sonya and the ending moments of the play produced a heartwarming moment. With the addition of Roger Allam, this was the high point of this production. Timothy West played the his professor character as a realist, and as the outbursts started after his announcement, the reality of the situation becomes clear from his point of view, no matter how Vanya viewed it.

Indeed before that scene it seemed as if the play was showing a one-sided view by focusing on Vanya more than the Professor. Even the tranquillity of the world that he was trying to preserve is dominant in the scenery. Nature seemed to be a part of the house, with birch trees scattered around edges of the stage. These trees are also seen at the back of the stage through the line of windows set in the back wall of the house. Even the brown and light colours of the costumes the characters wore reflected the world they lived within. Other nice touches were the rain that came pouring down behind the wall at one point, and the sounds of birds in the background.

This production was a well directed and performed delight. Plaudits also go to the designs, which conveyed the world of Uncle Vanya. Yet it was the final and emotional moments that gave this production a high Top Price.