VANYA in Copenhagen

What a wonderful performance straight from the National Theatre to Copenhagen. I want more from the National Theatre Live!

The Fabulous Andrew Scott

This man must be a genius. He did something only a few are capable of. Turning a rainy Monday night into a sweet escape.

This is why people love art. I know it sounds silly, but I believe that this crappy world can be saved by doing and enjoying art. So, if you want to save the world, save yourself first. Go and experience art.

Create a whole new world out of what we already have.

Look at Andrew Scott as the shy Sonia or the posh Helena. He can be Alexander, Maureen, Ivan, or Michael — blast as Liam.

The Act

I’m not going to lie. The performance got to a rough start. When the screening finally started, we heard screaming, and someone came in asking for a nurse or a doctor to help. The room was filled with worry until the ambulance came, so it took some time to focus on the screen again.

But that’s not on Vanya’s. And the lady is well and safe now.

It felt like there were seven different ghosts of Andrew Scotts on stage. He did an amazing job as an actor. He played with the characters easily. It was clear who was talking. He changed faces and played with his voice and his body. He made us believe that we see seven different people.

Stunning performance

My favourite characters were Vanya and Sonia.

I felt he put extra effort into these two, the play's losers. Their ending made the play utterly sad and relatable.

Vanya had to realize how unfair the world is. He felt he never lived and had to return to nothingness. He could never find anyone to love (except his mother, perhaps).

And Sonia, dear Sonia. She lost all hope of finding love thanks to his father and his new wife’s visit.

Happy endings are rare, and that is a hard pill to swallow.

If you haven’t heard about Vanya

Uncle Vanya is a play written by Anton Chekhov in 1897. Although the play was written two centuries ago, it feels fresh on stage.

There are seven characters, and the names were anglicised so it’s easier to feel like it’s happening now.

Alexander — originally a retired university professor — is an almost retired filmmaker in the new play. He wants to sell his deceased first wife’s estate so he can live and retire in the city with his young wife, Helena.

Helena is Alexander's young and beautiful wife. Both Michael — the doctor and climate enthusiast- and Vanya are in love with Helena.

Vanya takes care of the land and pays the rent for it. He is the godfather of Sonia. Sonia is Alexander’s daughter, who got the estate from her mother, Anna.

Maureen is Vanya’s mother, and Liam is the old landowner with a golden heart.

National Theatre Live

Vanya is a one-man adaptation for the stage starring Andrew Scott and directed by Sam Yates. A filmed recording was released in cinemas through National Theatre Live in February 2024.

Yay! Thank you, and do it more and more!

Thank you for reading!

The Witty Witch