European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Chekov having Good year on London stage by Frank Rich the new York times the Only debate raging among London critics about the Royal National theater s new Uncle Vanya is this is the pairing of Ian Mckellen and Antony Sher As Vanya and Astrov just As exciting As that of Michael Redgrave and Laurence Olivier 30 years ago or is this merely the Best Uncle Vanya since then either conclusion amounts to High Praise for Chekhov s play receives a major production every few seasons in London and nearly every major British actor has undertaken it within fairly recent memory. There is no denying the excitement at the cot Esloe which is the National s most intimate House and which is where Uncle Vanya performed at practically Arm s length from the surrounding audience is As hot a ticket As its repertory companion Angels in America. Working with a Lively new translation director Sean Mathias has taken a direct rather than an innovative approach to Chekhov choosing to let his company dominate the spare wintry Scenic Canvas with performances of an emotional intensity More reminiscent of american acting than British. The close knit ensemble reflects the production s Long stint at the National theater studio a subsidized offshoot that allows actors writers and directors to Experiment on pet projects without deadlines or even a requirement to give Public performances. The production is not always seamless. Sher s Astrov in particular has a tendency to leap out of the Frame his Dustin Hoffman esque comic Energy which has earned him acclaim in other works comes off As a Star s showy self infatuation rather than the country doctor s idealistic passion. Mckellen by contrast subdues his usual Bravura Star presence to inhabit fully the Defeated Vanya. Bespectacled and Pale and looking not unlike the Chekhov of photographs he provides a muted life size account of a Middle aged Man Awakening at every hapless turn to the futility of his existence in a stagnant provincial household. His crushed nobility of spirit a Ian Mckellan subdues his usual fire while playing the Lead role in Chekhov s Quot Uncle  reflected in his embittered inward mutterings and the winces of psychological self flagellation in his eyes a recalls the work of some of Britain s finest actors. This Vanya is at its most moving in those scenes that pair its title character with Lesley Sharp As Sonya his Niece. A Stout open faced woman who really looks As if she were built to devote her life to hard thankless work in the russian Boondocks the actress often seems to be daughter and Mother to Vanya As Well As Niece. One of the production s other indelible performances an exceptionally compassionate interpretation of Vanya s Nemesis the bullying old professor Serebryakov comes from Eric Porter who found similar Depths in big daddy in a Fine National theater production of Caf on a hot tin roof a few years ago. The link Between Chekhov and Tennessee Williams is being reinforced at the National this season by Richard Eyre s Beautiful revival on the Lyttelton s proscenium stage of the night of the iguana the 1961 play that was the author s last commercial hit but that is not usually counted among his major achievements. Quot what writers influenced me As a Young Man Chekhov As a dramatist Chekhov Quot begins a famous Williams quotation that is reprinted in the National s program for iguana. Set in a Sleazy mexican tourist hotel in 1940, the play charts the survival of two archetypal Williams misfits a defrocked sexually reckless priest named Shannon reduced to leading bargain basement tour groups and an impoverished new England spinster named Hannah Jelkes who carts around her 97-year-old Grandfather the world s Quot oldest living and practising poet Quot and subsists by painting Tacky portraits of tourists. Iguana has its problems but with the Aid of riveting performances by Alfred Molina and Eileen Atkins in the two key roles Eyre has found More touching scenes and humor in this second rank Williams play than Many directors find in his Best. A despite the fact so Many major British actors Hook up with either the National or the Royal Shakespeare company to perform the classics the West end has been Able to keep the tradition of starry classic revivals under commercial auspices alive. Trevor Nunn s revival of George Bernard Shaw s Heartbreak House at the Haymarket has a dream cast Vanessa Redgrave Felicity Kendal Daniel Massey Oliver Ford Davies Joe Melia and Paul Scofield As Captain shot Over. Shaw s play a Majestic evocation of an England tottering into the apocalypse of world War i acknowledges a debt to Chekhov specifically the Cherry Orchard but Captain shot Over a crusty old Man with two troublesome daughters also echoes King Lear. Since Scofield s Lear in the Early 1960s remains one of the most electrifying he is Ideal for the part. For a schedule of plays at London a West end Heaters see the on stage listings on pages 22-23.in the wings theater England Raf Chicksands Sands theater works presents Neil Simon s comedy the Odd couple May 8 tickets Are $4. A dinner theater performance is May 9 at 6 30 . Tickets Are $9.95. The theater presents the musical comedy nonsense. Regular performances Are june 5 and 12 tickets Are $5. Dinner theater performances Are june 6 and 1 3 at 6 30 . Tickets Are $10.95. Old fashioned ice Cream sunday theater performances Are june 7 and 14 at 6 30 . Tickets Are $6. Performances Are at the Raf Chicksands Community Center. Call ets 234-2467 or civilian 0462-812571, ext. 2467. Germany Bamberg s stable theater presents steel magnolias May 7-9 and 14-16 at 7 30 . Tickets Are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Call ets 469-8647. Frankfurt s candlelight dinner theater presents the comedy drama other people s Money May 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8 . The bar opens at 6 30 ., dinner is at 7 . The theater is in the Terrace club Abrams Complex Hansa Allee. Call ets 320-5835 or civilian 069-151 -5835. Hanau s five pfennig playhouse on old Argonne Cavern presents Tennessee Williams a Streetcar named desire May 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8 . Tickets Are $5. Children under 6 not admitted. Call ets 322-8031 or civilian 06181-88-8031. Stuttgart entertainment presents once upon a mattress a musical comedy based on the Princess and the pea May 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8 . And May 10 and 17 at 3 . At the Stuttgart theater Center 5th general Hospital bad Cannstatt. Tickets Are $8 for adults and $6 for students and children 5-18. Children under 5 Are not admitted. Call ets 420-6148 or civilian 0711 -819-6148. Frankfurt s English theater presents August Wilson s drama fences May 8-31 daily at 8 ., except monday s. Tickets Are 35 and 40 Marks for adults 1 5 Marks for students and children. The theater is at Kaise Strasse 52. Call chilian 069-24231620. Darmstadt s performing arts Center on Ernst Ludwig Cavern presents Rogers and Hammerstein s musical comedy South Pacific May 9 at 8 . And May 10 at 4 . Tickets Are $8 for adults $6 for children. Call ets 348-7336 or civilian 06151-69-7336. Kaiserslautern entertainment presents the musical comedy nonsense. Regular performances Are May 13 and june 7 and 14 at 7 . And june 4 and 18 at 8 . Tickets Are $7. Wine and cheese evenings Are May 29 and june 11, 19 and 20 at 7 15 . Tickets Are $10. Dinner theater performances Are May 30 and june 5, 6 and 13 at 7 . Tickets Are $17. Performances Are at the performing arts Center Mannheimer Strasse b-37across from Danner Cavern. Call ets 483-8139/7543 or civilian 0631 -411 -8139/7543 weekdays noon to 6 . Heidelberg and Darmstadt entertainment branches present the musical comedy nonsense May 22 and 23 at 8 . The fats Waller musical Ain t misbehaving is May 29 and 30 at 8 . Performances Are at Heidelberg s Roadside theater on Stem Cavern off autobahn 656, Between Heidelberg and Mannheim. Tickets Are $8 for adults $7 for seniors and full time students and $3.50 for children 12 and under. Call ets 370-7515 or civilian 06221 -57-7515. Giessen s Keller theater presents the comedy Boeing Boeing May 29 and 30 and june 4-6 and 11-13 at 7 30 . The theater is in Miller Hall Grunberger Strasse 143. Tickets Are $5 for adults $4 for students and $3 for children 6-12. Children under 6 Are not admitted. Call ets 343-651 5 or civilian 0641-402-6515. The Frankfurt playhouse at 150 Hansa Allee presents the musical la Cage Aux Folles. A Champagne and Post show Buffet performance is May 29 at 6 30 . Regular shows Are May 30 and june 4-6, 12-1 3, 19-20 and 25-27 at 7 30 . Compiled by Anita Gosch and june 14 and 21 at 3 . Call ets 320-5835 or civilian 069-151-5835. Auditions England Raf Chicksands Sands theater works has auditions for . Gurney s comedy the cocktail hour May 10 and 11 at 7 . At the Community Center. Parts Are available for two men and two women Ages 30-50. Performances Are scheduled for the Edinburgh fringe festival in Scotland aug. 21-30. Call ets 234-2467 or civilian 0462-812571, ext. 2467. Germany Stuttgart entertainment has auditions for the variety show Broadway bound open to youths Ages 5-18, May 16 at 2 . At the theater Center. Singers dancers bands instrumentalists vocal groups and variety acts can audition. Performances Are june 5 and 6. Call ets 420-6148 or civilian 0711-819-6148. Bad Kreuz Nach recreation Center on Rose Barracks holds the ask level entertainment contest May 16 at 6 30 . Finalists from Baum older bad Kreuz Nach and Mainz compete for the Chance to Advance to the All army Europe entertainment Competition May 23-25 at the Baum older Wagon wheel theater. Call civilian 06783-9143. Heidelberg s Roadside theater on Stem Cavern has auditions for talk radio june 1 and 2 at 7 . There Are numerous parts for men and women As Well As backstage voices. Call ets 380-7073. Military communities and English language Heaters in Europe May submit information on their theater and music activities for publication in this column in the first stripes Magazine of each month. Information Tor the june column must be received by May 27. Items must include performance dates times and locations Cost of tickets and phone numbers to Call or More information. Please Send the information to the stars and stripes entertainment unit 29480, Apo a 09211, or the stars and stripes entertainment Post Tach 11 14 37,6100 Darmstadt 11, Germany. 10 stripes Magazine May 7, 1992