Kraken Theatre Company will present Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center (MAC) for one weekend only, Sept. 5 through Sept. 7.
On a rural estate, tensions rise as long-buried frustrations, unrequited desires, and bitter disappointments collide. Vanya, his niece Sonya, the disillusioned doctor Astrov, and the enigmatic Yelena all wrestle with wasted potential and the fragile hope for a more meaningful life.
Written in 1898 by Anton Chekov, Uncle Vanya is a key play within the modern theatrical turn towards naturalism. The three great modernist – Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, and Chekhov – sought to revolutionize theatre along the lines of Darwinian scientific discoveries. Melodrama with its highly contrived plots and irrational emotional outbursts was rejected in favor of more objective studies of human nature. Uncle Vanya is a testament to Chekhov’s search for the modern human condition – its blend of the comic with the tragic reveals the universal struggle against monotony and regret.
This production of Uncle Vanya is a collaboration between professors from Merced College, UC Merced, and Stan State. This show is an original adaptation created by Adam Bryx, instructor of theatre and English literature at UC Merced.
The titular character is played by Michael Barba, professor of English at Merced College, while his niece, Sonya, is played by Lauren McCue Bryx, professor of theatre at Merced College. The lighting designer and scenic designer, Edgar Alamo and Josh Christensen, work at Stan State. Rounding out the cast is Jordan Ellis as doctor Astrov and Pamela Quevedo as Yelena. Merced College theatre student Hannha Prewett is the stage manager, and Zairah Quevedo is the props manager.
Performances of Uncle Vanya will be on Sept. 5 and 6 at 7 p.m., and Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. inside the MAC located at 645 W. Main St. in downtown Merced. A talk back with the director and cast will follow the conclusion of the show on Sept. 6. A student preview will occur on Sept. 4, which will be free for all students who show a student ID.
For all other nights, Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online on the MAC website. For more information about the show and about Kraken Theatre Company: instagram.com/krakentheatre, or find more on Facebook and YouTube.