ONLINE THEATRE
Vanya adapted by Simon Stephens from Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya
Online by subscription at National Theatre at Home (UK)
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: ***** (5)
This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 3 May 2025. KH
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| Andrew-Scott-in-VANYA.-Photo-by-Marc-Brenner |
Andrew Scott’s performance in Vanya is nothing short of gobsmacking! It is a master class in solo performance that displays virtuosic skill, subtlety and nuance, dynamism and stamina, physical and vocal dexterity and complex characterisation. Scott populates the stage with a parade of characters and one forgets there is no other cast! It’s remarkable!
Scott plays all the characters in Simon Stephens’ intelligent, updated version of Chekhov’s play, Uncle Vanya, with impeccable but deceptively simple direction by Sam Yates.
Without shifting to vocal extremes to create accents, or changing physicality in complex ways, Scott performs all the dialogue between characters with tiny subtle shifts of voice, body and gesture; often, a single, simple prop conveys the essence of a character.
For example, his Sonia clasps a dusting cloth and expresses a timid quality in face and voice.
Vanya sports sunglasses, Elena plays with her necklace. Michael, the moody doctor, is a fast speaking, mean drunk, but Scott lowers his vocal register when Michael talks about his forest, his existential despair or about his love for Elena.
Alexander the formerly great film artist, is slower and more pedantic. The other two characters, the housekeeper and the ignored worker, are equally complex, even if not central to the plot.
This Vanya is an astonishing feat of acting by Scott in a cleverly written and unobtrusively directed production. It is worth the subscription to National Theatre at Home, even for a month.
By: Kate Herbert.
Performed by Andrew Scott - all characters
Creative Team
Sam Yates – Director
Simon Stephens – Writer
Rosanna Vise - Designer.
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