Uncle Vanya [Paperback]

David Mamet (Adapter), Anton Chekhov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 1994

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet’s Uncle Vanya is a sparkling restoration of a masterpiece of the modern stage, marked by Mamet’s finely tuned ear for dialogue and memorable poetic imagery.

In "Uncle Vanya," a retired professor and his beautiful young wife return to the country estate left by his deceased first wife to find themselves overwhelmed by the stagnant inevitability of the rituals of their life and class, and mercilessly taxed by the encroachment of age at the expense of youth. All of the play’s characters are plunged into that precarious state where, in Beckett’s words, “the boredom of living is replaced by the suffering of being.”

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

So, what happens in Uncle Vanya? Not much; just life, played out over four acts. There are rich people, and there are people who work for the rich people, whom the rich people don't really care about. There is a gun fired in anger and desperation, but there aren't any bodies to carry off stage. There are men making fools of themselves over women. There are those who accept their fates and wait for their rewards in heaven, and there are others who don't care one way or another. There is a character whose name is in lights as the title, but he doesn't add up to all that much. Chekhov's play moves so languidly that, without a vibrant cast, an understanding director, and a lively translation, it stands the chance of passing under the radar of the average audience. Columbus's reworking of the script (done for Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company) aims at accessibility, replacing the "outdated colloquialisms" and "brittle prose" of earlier translations. And, for the most part, it's OK. It's not revelatory or revolutionary, but it stands as good a chance as any of getting the audience to come back after intermission. Recommended for collections in need of a new copy of this work. Larry Schwartz, Minnesota State Univ. Lib., Moorhead
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

Recommended. (Library Journal ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press; 1st edition (January 21, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802131514
• ISBN-13: 978-0802131515
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #440,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Appealing, April 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Uncle Vanya (Paperback)

In a world full of whining and complaining about insignificant things, it's fun to once again admire Anton Chekhov and his ability to make this seem imperative to human life. While in the setting of Russian gentry, everything as falling apart, and the lives of the characters are no more gratifying than anyone else's.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars engaging, August 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Uncle Vanya (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading Uncle Vanya. It delves into the lives of everyday normal people and their hopes and disillusionments of life. It is about self-realization and not getting what you want. A great play.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Checkov at his best, August 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Uncle Vanya (Paperback)

I have read many versions of Uncle Vanya, but this edition is an up-beat, funny, and, ultimately wonderful version of the excellent story by one of Russias beloved writers. I was looking for the right edition to use in my school for the school play, and this edition the kids could connect to. It dosen't have a lot of that Shakespere mumbo-jumbo that you have to read 50 times. This is accesible and very good. rock on David Mamet.