I cannot believe that this exquisitely produced and consummately acted version of Chekhov's moving tragedy has only one review on IMDB: and that a two-sentence line and a half of a relatively minor aspect of the play.
Richard Eyre has masterfully directed some Shakespeare plays, but his instructions to the actors in this were spot on. So often, Chekhov has these self-involved entities talking to one another while the person who supposedly is being talked to is staring off in another direction, seemingly oblivious of the other person's feelings. This is so strongly in line with what Chekhov was getting at: the inability of humans to really communicate with one another, and again and again, the actors captured this.
Anton Lesser is scintillating as the young firebrand, Bill Paterson is impressive as the self-made 'son of peasants', Judi Dench is movingly sympathetic as the woman who cannot help herself to deal with reality and Timothy Spall bumbles his way through to a masterful performance of a character nobody else seems comfortable to be with. And these are only four of the many roles: each of which was recreated in a truly memorable manner.
Very, very moving.
Richard Eyre has masterfully directed some Shakespeare plays, but his instructions to the actors in this were spot on. So often, Chekhov has these self-involved entities talking to one another while the person who supposedly is being talked to is staring off in another direction, seemingly oblivious of the other person's feelings. This is so strongly in line with what Chekhov was getting at: the inability of humans to really communicate with one another, and again and again, the actors captured this.
Anton Lesser is scintillating as the young firebrand, Bill Paterson is impressive as the self-made 'son of peasants', Judi Dench is movingly sympathetic as the woman who cannot help herself to deal with reality and Timothy Spall bumbles his way through to a masterful performance of a character nobody else seems comfortable to be with. And these are only four of the many roles: each of which was recreated in a truly memorable manner.
Very, very moving.