Uncle Vanya
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reworking of the script (done for Chicago's  Steppenwolf Theatre Company) aims at accessibility, replacing  the "outdated colloquialisms" and "brittle prose" of earlier  translations.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., MoorheadCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an alternatePaperbackedition.