FUSION's 'Uncle Vanya' explores the connections of family and community
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Set in Ukraine at the turn of the century, 鈥淯ncle Vanya鈥� follows a family attempting to maintain a crumbling home, while exploring the idea of love and community in a time that lacks those ideals.
The play follows characters Sonya and her Uncle Vanya as the pair throw themselves into the restoration of their family home. When Sonya鈥檚 father, Professor Serebryakov, returns home with his new wife, the family begins to unravel when secrets begin to unfold. Things only get worse when the family discovers Professor Serebryakov intends to sell the home they worked so desperately to repair.
FUSION Theatre Company is bringing 鈥淯ncle Vanya鈥� to the stage with shows Thursday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 16.
鈥淭his is primarily a love story and a comedy, and it鈥檚 all variations of love and the kind of love that ultimately heals and transforms the psyche and a community,鈥� said Jacqueline Reid, director of the play. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e at a point in life where you don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 around the corner, it鈥檚 always love that鈥檚 going to heal and get us through, not just romantic love, but love in its highest form.鈥�
The show is based off of Anton Chekhov鈥檚 original play, but was adapted by Conor McPherson to bring a modern day tone to the story to help audience members better relate to it.
鈥淭he original is quite verbose with a lot of exposition and talking,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淚n this version, the words are trimmed and condensed and much more to the point. You鈥檙e riding fast and going deep at the same time. He brings a great economy and modern sensibility to the action.鈥�
The show asks the audience to look within and acknowledge their emotions and their connections with loved ones and their community.
鈥淭he first act is a riot because you鈥檙e watching all these high-strung, intense people, and it鈥檚 a situational comedy so you watch them in their own reality dealing with each other,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淎s each scene progresses, it gets more and more specific and intimate.鈥�
Reid said the biggest difference between this iteration of 鈥淯ncle Vanya鈥� and Chekhov鈥檚 original play is that this version emphasizes the comedy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to be your mother鈥檚 version of 鈥楿ncle Vanya,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淭here are a lot of other versions out there, and I think they often get it wrong because they don鈥檛 understand Chekhov鈥檚 is comedy. The comedy is found because of the intensity of each character鈥檚 need is so intense that it creates a comedy.鈥�
鈥淯ncle Vanya鈥� also creates comparisons between Western and Eastern mindsets. Reid said the show asks audience members to thoughtfully engage with the idea of personhood.
鈥淚t gets to the heart of what you think personhood is,鈥� she said. 鈥淚s personhood me, myself and I can do whatever I want as long as I don鈥檛 hurt anybody or is it the Eastern mindset of personhood being about pouring out and giving to others? To find yourself in the West is to find yourself by losing yourself.鈥�
FUSION's 'Uncle Vanya' explores the connections of family and community
