UNCLE VANYA

SYNOPSIS of UNCLE VANYA: "When a retired professor and his beautiful, young second wife arrive at their remote family estate to settle down, they disrupt the quiet farm life with their city ways. Against a late-summer, country landscape, the inhabitants of the house quickly discover new passions and revisit old loves." (Steppenwolf Studio Theatre)

L-R: Jeff as Dr. Astrov, Sally Murphy as Yelena, and Austin Pendleton as Uncle Vanya.

When I heard that Jeff was going to be on stage in Chicago I jumped at the chance to see him live. His performance as Doctor Astrov had me transfixed from beginning to end. I am not new to theatre, or the power of the written word, but UNCLE VANYA is truly a magnificent piece. This play, and the many skilled performances of its multi-talented cast members, truly touched me with timely messages about love, loss and the importance of family.

Anton Chekov's drama deals with many problems that humanity is still struggling with today. Characters in his world spend lazy summer days philosophizing and talking to each other about whatever suits them...the professor and his ailments, the fair Yelena, or the Doctor's tree nursery. Thoughts and ideas expressed in this play are as relevant now as they were over a hundred years ago. UNCLE VANYA is not strictly a morose drama about the hardships of the heart. Several times I found myself laughing at the wicked absurdity of these colourful characters.

L-R: Austin Pendleton, Rondi Reed as the Nanny and Robert Breuler as Professor Serebtyakov.

Dr. Astrov is the epitomy of someone stuck in middle age. Jeff brings pathos, wit and intellect to this role. While some people may have played Astrov as an object of ridicule, Jeff made him someone who embraces his passions without caring for other people's opinions. One of his passions is the protection of the environment. Dr. Astrov tells anyone who will listen that deforestation will be man's greatest travisty. Checkov's characters brought forth environmental issues long before it was cool or hip.

Doctor Astrov and the Nanny

The set designer, Joseph Wade, also seemed to be inspired by Astrov's desire to protect the environment. Not only did he transform "...the Steppenwolf Studio to great effect, creating a marvelous, strangely luminous box of birch trees on the outside walls and flowered wallpaper inside," * but Wade also included several natural elements in his set decoration. The floors are hardwood when they could have been stone, all the furniture is made from milled or carved wood, and benches sitting outside on the terrace are handcrafted wood when they might have been fashioned out of cool metal.

Arguement could be made that furniture of this era was made from various types of exotic woods, and Wade is merely being true to Russian style, however I believe these choises were made consciously. It is this dedication to detail that makes Steppenwolf productions so unique.

* Quote taken from a review of "Uncle Vanya" printed in the Chicago Sun Times on June 26, 2001. Article was written by Hedy Weiss.

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