A ‘Surprisingly Relevant’ Uncle Vanya

Director Beth Schachter says students may be surprised to find themselves relating to a show written in the 19th century.

“It’s really like the nightmare of living in a college dorm,” says Schachter, director of the upcoming staged reading of “Uncle Vanya.” “You fall for the person two doors down, and then it blows up in your face… And then you see them in the bathroom! That continuity of friction, resilience, and kindness really speaks to our Muhlenberg community.”

Vanya finds himself in a similarly complicated situation when his boss, an elderly professor, and his beautiful young wife, Yelena, come to stay with him. Complicated feelings come to a head when the professor reveals that his plans for the estate could upend not only Vanya’s life, but the lives of all he holds dear. The play was first published in 1897 by seminal Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Muhlenberg’s staged reading will be performed twice, at 2 and 7 p.m., on Nov. 21, in the Studio Theatre located in the Trexler Pavilion.

“Uncle Vanya is a classic clown,” Schachter says. “A clown falls down and makes a mess, but they pull themselves back up and try again. Like a cartoon character, he knows he’s behaving badly — he’s just not sure how to stop. I certainly relate to that, and I think a lot of other people do, too.”

“Vanya’s a Charlie Brown,” says Nick Ciccarelli ’30, who plays Vanya. “He’s pessimistic, but he’s also very funny. The show itself is considered a tragi-comedy. Yes, it’s a tragic show with tragic moments, but there’s so much comedic charm.”

“Uncle Vanya” has offered new opportunities for several students in the Theatre & Dance community.

“I’m a freshman,” Ciccarelli says. “I plan on majoring in theater. It’s my passion. So, I’m very happy that I got into ‘Uncle Vanya.’ A staged reading feels like the best place to start, as opposed to a full-fledged play or musical.”

Schachter says audiences don’t need to see “Uncle Vanya” to understand the upcoming production of “Life Sucks,” Aaron Posner’s modern adaptation of the Chekhov classic, opening March 18. But she says they’ll have a richer experience if they know the original. 

“[Department Chair] Leslie Hill’s idea of doing the reading of ‘Uncle Vanya’ to help us jump into ‘Life Sucks’ is very cool,” Schachter says. “My students read ‘Vanya’ in our Contemporary Drama class. Student actors are at least reading the audition sides. As a community of theater people, that kind of continuity of attention encourages bubbling curiosity about both productions.”

Ciccarelli promises that the upcoming tragi-comedy will reward that curiosity.

“We’re gonna make you laugh, we’re gonna make you cry, we’re gonna make you feel everything,” Ciccarelli says. “That’s the magic of ‘Uncle Vanya.’”

See “Uncle Vanya” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Studio Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 21. All tickets are $5. Tickets are available at muhlenberg.edu/seeashow or 484-664-3333.