A dramatic confusion: Chekhov's uncle Wanja reinterpreted

A dramatic confusion: Chekhov's uncle Wanja reinterpreted

The latest staging of "Uncle Wanja" in Josefstadt stands out particularly due to Christian Schmidt's impressive stage design. He created an elegant estate in western “beautiful living” style, which is characterized by massive stone walls and a fireplace in the salon. The wood -paneled walls and the solid candelaber create an atmosphere that looks both charming and nostalgic. A special abnormality is the phone with a dial and also a record player who plays some well -known hits during the performance, including "You Make Me Feel" by Sylvester and "All by Myelf" by Eric Carmen.

The performance, which celebrated its premiere on Thursday and lasts almost three hours, not only brings up classic topics, but also modern acoustic elements. The piece shows a lively kitchen in which it is actually cooked - the smells of fried eggs and spaghetti carbonara pull through the air. The house itself seems to play a leading role and strengthens the thematic as well as emotional conflicts between the characters, especially between Wanja and the beautiful jelena in which he is in love.

a game of feelings

The staging is accompanied by Klamauk and Slapstick when the figures in the play are confronted with the challenges of their lives. Wanja dreams of a family and wants a reorganization of relationships while he lives in the shadow of the old professor, whose new woman confuses the old order.

An inspiring example of this production should be the performance "Dėdė vania" from the small theater Vilnius, which was seen during the Vienna Festival 2023. Here the live music is in the foreground and ensures a dynamic presentation of the play. In the current production, contact with the audience is also used by taking figures directly from the setting and looking for a dialogue with the viewers.

Despite the successful stage technology and the entertaining aspects of performance, the deeper melancholy of the figures is not fully exhausted. Especially the figure of Sonja, who tries in vain to win the doctor Astrow for himself, is not worked out profoundly enough. Only in the final monologue does Johanna Mahaffy get the opportunity to express her emotions fully.

The performance of the actors are remarkable. Joseph Lorenz as a professor is the focus, while Thomas Frank captivates with his bizarre humor. Marianne Nentwich brings a touching note into the action with her figure, while Alexander Absenger charmingly ensures a humor as Astrow. Alma Hasun as a jelena remains unapproachable, which increases the dynamics between the characters.

A moment particularly touches when Raphael von Bargen expresses his love for jelena in a pantomime. This forms the emotional climax of the performance, in which he convincingly represents the inner conflicts and the despair of his figure. The spectators experience here that despite the impressive stage decoration, the heart of the piece is in the feelings and relationships of the characters.

The staging in Josefstadt captivates the audience and receives great applause. Even if the atmosphere of Czechow is not completely permeated, the combination of humorous moments and emotional depth remains a strong feature of this performance. The critical undertone about the influence of the external circumstances on people and their life stories is impressively conveyed. Current topics and contemporary access ensure that this version of "Uncle Wanja" is both relevant and entertaining. The critics emphasize that this production could become a hit because it offers new perspectives and interpretations of the classic that was once known.