Uncle Vanya

It’s always interesting to read a play and see it performed in around the same time period. For me, it really allowed my observations to connect to each other. I really enjoyed the character dynamics within the play, and the spin that was put on each of the character’s ‘stereotypes.’ Astrov’s character was fascinating because he had the likable, yet scoundrel like quality. Waffles was awesome because he acknowledged his foolishness or past embarrassments, (a tool which I tend to forget as a creative writer.) Not one of the characters was the same, yet they all dealt with one common theme: desire.

The performance at UPS was fantastic, though I did have a problem with sitting on stage with them. I applaud them for their creativity and the idea, I’m just not sure that it really worked in their favor. I was personally kind of uncomfortable with the fact that I was crammed in such a small space and so close to the actors. One of them would sit down right in front of me, I would get used to it, then something else would happen and I would have to get used to sitting directly behind yet another character. I guess I was just really uncomfortable being able to see so much. The entire idea of putting the audience on stage begs the question, “Is it good that the audience can see so much?” Is it a good thing that I could see the actors’ makeup? I don’t think that this question has a definite answer. Just because I didn’t enjoy being on stage with Uncle Vanya, there was an instance when I was studying abroad in London, that I experienced the same type of thing. A Mid Summer Nights’ Dream: we sat in the middle of the scene! It also made me uncomfortable, but at the same type it made me get into it even more. I think that the overall answer is simply that it depends how involved you want the audience to feel. With A Mid Summer Nights’ Dream, it was awesome having fairies jump around us, but with Uncle Vanya, I felt like I was disturbing the stage and characters, having my view blocked, and seeing just too much.