![]() ![]() Jim Adamik, who Canberrans will know to be a fine comic actor, possibly has less range in his role here than the other players but nonetheless is both hilarious and arresting as the depressed doctor Astrov. Another well-developed character is Lanie Hart’s Yelena, whose façade of prototypical cold, hard beauty, cracks open to show warmth and empathy to her stepdaughter (played with sensitivity by Yanina Clifton). Even the famous would-be gun scene is played partially as farce. One of the tools he uses to leaven the emptiness of his life is a particular dark humour, the sort of wry, self-effacing irony the pathologically melancholic use to get through life. Played by Sam Hannan-Morrow, Voynitzky is in constant struggle to control his emotions, only to have them burst through at times of vulnerability. Such deft handling of moments of recognition, wry laughter and regret define this nuanced production.Īll the major characters are layered. Less sensitive direction could have made had Vanya a regular loud drunk, stumbling and slurring words, but instead the vodka leaves him disarmed. His bravado vanishes and his cadence changes in a way that is natural, familiar and unstereotyped. ![]() One of the most beautiful, truthful moments in Rep’s production comes when Voynitzky (the Uncle Vanya of the title), drunk on vodka, drops his emotional shield of sarcasm and flippant humour, and speaks softly, from the heart, of his love for Yelena. ![]() By Anton Chekhov, adapted by David Mamet. ![]()
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