It wasn’t that long ago that I was complaining about yet another production of “Uncle Vanya” coming down the pike. Seriously, this play’s great but how many times do we need to see it? I humbly submit that there other names in the classical canon besides Shakespeare and Chekhov.
[What follows was edited to include a third “Vanya” production.]
But if the Sydney Theatre Company import with Cate Blanchett has the marquee name, the just-announced Soho Rep “Vanya” boasts downtown theater’s version of an All-Star lineup. (Forgive me, but after “Magic/Bird” I still have basketball on the brain.)
It starts behind the scenes, since we’ll get a new adaptation by Annie Baker directed by hot helmer Sam Gold. On stage there will be a downright thrilling cast: Maria Dizzia as Yelena, Michael Shannon as Astrov, Reed Birney as Vanya, Peter Friedman as the snotty professor, Merritt Wever as Sonya, etc. The smallest roles are filled by worthies, like Georgia Engel as the nurse. Of course they could all cancel each other out, as sometimes happens when a show has a surfeit of talent. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it works out.
If you really can’t wait and need a “Vanya” fix right now, or at least soon, Target Margin Theater’s production, staged by artistic director, David Herskovits, begins previews on April 26. What jumps out of the press release is that Steven Rattazzi plays the title character’s mother, so this may be the most high-concept of the three.
Now we just need someone to set up an outdoors screening of “Vanya on 42nd Street” at this point this summer, and we’re all set for the next three months.
Of course, there could be another “Vanya” or three in the fall…