Uncle Vanya????

[Anonymous]

Did any other DCUM-ers see this at the Kennedy Center? My DH and I saw it, and truly, it was 3 hours of our lives and $300 that we will never get back! It was dreadful. For the life of me, I am trying to figure out what on earth all the local reviewers saw that I didn't?! I was so excited to see Cate Blanchett on the stage, and yes, she was beautiful, but even her performance was underwhelming. The whole thing was just very shallow and the portrayals were "cardboard-y". Ugh, we just thought it sucked!!!

[Anonymous]

We didn't think it was dreadful, but were underwhelmed and thought Blanchett the weakest member of the cast.

[Anonymous]

The Chekhov traji-comedy is just a dark, stiff thing. As is a lot of Russian lit. I don't know what you were expecting...Go see Mama Mia if you want to feel bubbly and fun inside. Not Chekhov.

[Anonymous]

I saw it and thought that the acting was amazing but agree that Blanchett was the weakest part (at least for the majority of scenes).

[Anonymous]

"Uncle Vanya" is actually one of the deepest Chekhov's plays (in my view, only surpassed by "Three Sisters"), but it needs to be done right, otherwise it will easily slip into a farce (I've seen more than one 'Vanya', so I know what I'm talking about). I haven't seen this particular version, but I can see where you might be coming from, OP.

And "Uncle Vanya" is NOT meant to make you feel bubbly and fun inside, under any circumstances.

[Anonymous]

where does OP say she wanted to feel "bubbly and fun" inside? Two posters already mentioned this... Op just said that she was underwhelmed and it was dreadful - nowhere she says she was expecting to see something to make her feel bubbly and fun....