If you’ve ever wanted to be a fly on the wall, “Uncle Vanya” is the play for you. The stunning set, situated with all around seating, allows this reimagined production to feel like a conversation with the audience. “Uncle Vanya,” written by Russian playwright Anton Chekov, was first published in 1897 and produced by the Moscow Art Theatre in 1899.
The modern twist to this production introduces a new and engaging dynamic. The light fixture, a looming branch strung above with fairy lights, is a reminder for the environmental themes that stay constant throughout the performance. The costumes in Christopher Newport University’s (CNU) “Uncle Vanya” are best described as bohemian and botanical.
With junior Anthony Hearn’s memorable humor, junior Maggie Bowan’s striking glances and freshman John Proulx’s grounding guitar playing, audience members from the Apr. 10 preview were excited to see an old script with fresh eyes.
Master electrician of the show, senior Jimmy Grimes, shared his excitement with The Captain’s Log after the preview.
“I can’t wait to see what happens for the first time,” he said, while discussing the intimacy of black box theater. Grimes, who played a lead in “Carrie” and the title character in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” explained that although musical theater is extravagant in its own right, this type of production takes both the actors and audience members on a journey of self discovery. He hopes that those who enter the black box leave wanting to pursue intimate theater further. The Captain’s Log was able to talk with a few actors about their roles.
Freshman Paige Kelly plays Marina, the elderly housekeeper of the country estate. Her character is comforting, as she often is relied upon as a motherly figure. Unlike the main characters, Marina is content with her position in life. Kelly referred to her as “the calm before the storm.”
Freshman Juliet Marsh plays Yelena, the young, second wife of Professor Sebraikov. Despite not intentionally doing so, her presence in the house as the desired object for several characters results in her character as a catalyst. She means well, but without a noble purpose to keep her busy, she is fated to cause chaos in the house. Marsh quoted “Perks of a Wallflower” while discussing her character.
“She accepts the love she thinks she deserves,” she said. “Yelena doesn’t see love as a feeling, more of a strategy.”
Freshman Brett Conway plays the antagonist of “Uncle Vanya,” Professor Alexander Sebraikov. In a play full of miserable characters, the professor believes he is the most miserable of all. Without any fulfilling work, Sebraikov obsesses over his health issues (particularly his gout) as he “wastes away” in his country estate. Gout has been long known as the “disease of kings,” Conway briefed, it’s associated with rich foods and alcohol consumption. Conway claimed the professor clings to whatever is left of his status through the ailment. Conway doesn’t deny the professor has some sort of disease; however, he believes whatever affliction it is, the professor believes it’s worse.
The Captain’s Log was able to sit down and interview senior Brayden Crickenberger, who plays the title character.
Vanya, who is notably 47 years old, is twice the age of Crickenberger’s 22 years. Instead of trying to grasp at something that he can’t comprehend yet, Crickenberger focuses on what effects age has had on Vanya in order to personify him.
“[Vanya] has lived a long time and he feels like he’s wasted it,” he said. The emotion pulled from that, whether it’s regret or ruefulness, is an emotion that is easily relatable; people make decisions they wish they could go back and change all the time.
The cast was encouraged to not engage with other productions of “Uncle Vanya.”
“You run the risk as an actor of seeing someone else’s work and wanting to do the same, but in doing so you’re not being genuine,” Brayden said. “You’re trying to emulate something. [CNU’s production] is going to be my interpretation and it’s okay that it’s different.”
Crickenberger played the role of Mr. Darcy last semester in “Pride and Prejudice,” alongside senior Cora Barr who played the role of Elizabeth Bennett then and now Sónya in “Uncle Vanya.” Crickenberger was asked if he was able to find similarities between Vanya and Darcy.
“They both suffer from this problem of feeling vulnerable. Darcy didn’t want to be ridiculed in his high class society with his high class status. He put on a suit of armor every time he stepped out. For Vanya, it’s also a struggle with being vulnerable. His shield is a sort of bitterness that he can carry.” Crickenberger believes Darcy’s fear of being seen as foolish parallels Vanya’s upsetness of being made a fool. An intrinsic fear links the two characters, while the difference is how they approach the world.
The advertisement of “Uncle Vanya” around campus has emphasized environmental crisis themes. Despite this, the show primarily follows a family’s dynamic with a subplot dedicated to deforestation. Crickenberger thinks the themes are more connected than what meets the eye. He explained the concept of deforestation as taking an abundance of resources and tearing away at them until there’s nothing left. Chekov, Brayden noted, drew a parallel in “Uncle Vanya” between how that works for forests, but also how people can be torn down.
“[The play] is laced with messages of pro environment and reforestation,” Crickenberger observed, “but we’re watching as a man’s psyche and mental state is being pulled away in the same way that you would pull resources from a forest. It’s the deforestation of a man.”
Without mentioning spoilers, Crickenberger explained his thoughts on the final act of “Uncle Vanya.” The final act is designed to be quiet. Sebraikov and Yelena were the catalysts for the chaotic environment in the house, but before, everything was normal. Crickenberger tied his explanation back to the emphasis on deforestation.
“The cyclical nature of the play is to emphasize how quickly something can happen. How quickly you can tear down a forest and see that there’s nothing left. And after you’ve done all that cutting down, it’s just silent.”
Brayden gave an example of a piece of paper. You can crumple it, uncrumple it, and the paper can lay flat again. But you’ll never get rid of those wrinkles.
This stunning production of “Uncle Vanya” can be watched this weekend, Apr. 17-19, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. Student tickets are free and are able to be picked up at the ticket office in the Ferguson Center between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. or before the show.
Content Notice: This production contains themes of alcohol abuse, mental health challenges, guns, suicide and death.
