Chekhov comes to Pitt, likes it

Uncle Vanya

Through Feb. 16

Pitt Repertory Theater

Studio Theatre

(412)…

Uncle Vanya

Through Feb. 16

Pitt Repertory Theater

Studio Theatre

(412) 624-7529

Be sure to wipe your feet as you enter the studio theater in the basement of the Cathedral of Learning. Pitt’s Repertory Theater has transformed the modest space into a provincial home for their performance of Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya,” marking their first production of the new year. The company, under the direction of Bruce McConachie, successfully creates a balance between comedy and drama, in a play that has the potential to be performed at either end of the spectrum.

The play centers on five characters as we watch their struggle to change their lives. We are in Vanya’s home, where he lives with his mother and niece Sonya, and works to keep the estate profitable. Professor Serebryakov, who is Sonya’s father and Vanya’s brother-in-law from a previous marriage, comes to visit, bringing his new and much younger wife, Yelana.

The tediously ailing professor requires medical attention, which he receives from the often comical Dr. Astrov. Once the stage is set for the characters, the audience watches their efforts to achieve happiness and struggles with unrequited love. But aside from a climactic gunshot at the end of the third act, the action is created purely from the daily lives of these characters. The cast does a wonderful job of bringing the drama and comedy of this script to life. They execute Chekhov, whom I sometimes find tiresome on the page, with comedic timing and heartrending emotion.

With soft lighting and creative dream sequences, the wonderful set design aids the overall quality of the production. Their use of a clock ticking in certain scenes highlights that nothing changes in the world of these characters: From the next instant to the next month, their lives stay the same. The musical accompaniment, however, often drew attention away from the dialogue and action with its abrupt stops and starts.

The stage set-up offers a unique opportunity for the audience to really become involved in the performance. The seating is arranged to place you against the walls of Vanya’s home. Many audience members sit near windows or pictures and there are even some chairs and tables available in the main playing area. Because action takes place on different areas of the stage, the program contains a color-coded seating guide, asking the audience to change seats during intermission, allowing you to experience the performance from different angles. Your sense of involvement is further heightened when at times the actors deliver their lines while looking directly at you.

If you are intimidated by reading Chekhov on your own or unable to find the humor in the dialogue, come see it brought to life by the Pitt’s Repertory Theater, playing until Feb. 16 in the studio theater, located in the basement of the Cathedral.

Pitt Repertory Theater will sponser a specially priced performance of “Uncle Vanya” tomorrow, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m in the studio theater in the basement of the Cathedral of Learning. Tickets for this performance will be $10 and will be available in advance or at the door. Student tickets are priced at $12 for the rest of the show’s run.