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Welcome back for our second session this month in The Rehearsal Room with Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya!

Our session begins with an engaging discussion about the unique structure of the play, highlighting how Chekhov’s characters grapple with their desires and disappointments. Libby emphasizes the luxury of having extended time to dissect a scene, which allows actors to explore the material in a way that reveals its hidden layers.

One of the key themes discussed is the pervasive sense of frustration and longing that permeates the play. Characters express their dissatisfaction with life, each trapped in their own existential dilemmas. The atmosphere of the scene reflects this tension, as the characters deal with sleepless nights, emotional turmoil, and the weight of aging.

Libby’s insights into the significance of stage directions and sound add another layer to our understanding of Chekhov’s work. The tapping of the watchman serves as a reminder of the outside world, contrasting the internal struggles of the characters. This attention to detail enriches the audience’s experience, allowing them to appreciate the subtleties of Chekhov’s writing.

Tune in and join us as we continue to explore the rich human emotion woven throughout Chekhov’s masterful writing!

What happened in the Week 2 Session?

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

• Delving into themes of aging, longing, and existential despair





• Uncovering the subtext and motivations behind the characters’ words





• Examining the frustrations and desires on this stormy night

Watch the Week 2 Session!

Full transcript included at the bottom of this post.

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And there’s the audio version too – you still get everything from listening!

Total Running Time: 1:51:52

• Stream by clicking here.





• Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as/save link as”.

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Short on time?

Check out this 80-second clip from this session with Libby discussing Chekhov’s love for music and stage directions!

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And a great quote from Alberto in this week’s session…

References mentioned in the Week 2 Session:

• FIVE CHEKHOV PLAYS: Libby and Allison’s translation of Chekhov





• Anton Chekhov





• The Cherry Orchard (play)





• Turgenev

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Thank you to our current patrons at the Co-Star level or higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff!

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THE SCENE

Our group will be working on the first half of Act 2.

Follow along with the play here. Order a copy of Libby and Allison’s translation here.

Uncle Vanya Team – with artists in CA, Chicago, and New Zealand!

• DIRECTOR: Libby Appel (Q&A episode)





• VOICE COACH: Ursula Meyer (Q&A episode)





• DRAMATURG: Allison Horsley





• PROFESSOR: Alberto Isaac (episode)





• SONYA: Deidrie Henry





• MARINA: Jully Lee





• VANYA: Howard Leder





• YELENA: Sara Mountjoy-Pepka





• ASTROV: Corey Hedy

Read more about the artists here.

And there’s more!

Catch up on our other workshops featuring lots of Shakespeare scenes, from Hamlet, King Lear, Troilus and Cressida, Midsummer, As You Like It, and our Twelfth Night repertory extravaganza – all on the podcast and YouTube.  If you’ve missed any presentations thus far, click here to find them all.