Having heard the recording of Laurence Olivier's production of 'Uncle Vanya' at Chichester Festival Theatre's first season I have always wanted to see it.Laurence Olivier generously gives Michael Redgrave as Uncle Vanya the space to give one of greatest performances in British theatre history with Olivier himself as Astrov equalling him in stature as Astrov.To say that they at their peak does not do them justice! Chekhov shows through each character degrees of despair -- Redgrave's most brilliant moment comes with his delayed reaction to the the Professor informing that he wishes to sell the estate -- he mishears him and then unleashes second by second the years of frustration -- his torment and rage tears into the viewer provoking a feeling of sympathy at the waste of a life and hysterical laughter at the way he communicates it.Olivier's Astrov has smaller moments though no less powerful in the way he talks about the forests and his work with effortless detail to Yelena played by the beautiful Rosemary Harris -- it is a masterful display of great acting that we will probably never see again.
Review of Uncle Vanya
