As one who loves Chekhov in - and is prepared to put up with - any form I came to this secure in the knowledge that the vastly overrated - in my opinion - Olivier had only a supporting role and nepotism to one side - as Artistic Director of the National he clearly had as many qualms as Brian Forbes about casting his wife - I was prepared to savor the Chekhov and endure the Oliviers. Okay, Louis Malles' Vanya on 42nd Street is still, and probably will always be, the Chekhov movie to beat but that doesn't mean no one should attempt it. There is - on video at least - a filmed record of Michael Redgraves' Uncle Vanya recorded at Chichester but the video is terrible quality and a DVD transfer may well be a solution. Here we have a play written by one Russian, translated by another and co-directed by a Frenchman. I detected only serviceable rather than memorable performances but in spite of the best efforts of the actors the genius of Chekhov shone through it all like a beacon.
Review of Three Sisters
