It’s been said by many a drama critic that the plays of Russian writer Anton Chekhov are more about what’s being said between the lines than the dialogue itself—that they revolve around subtext. And if that’s the case, then it’s not sacrilegious that the Dallas Actor’s Guild has brought modern colloquialisms to the Chekov masterpiece Uncle Vanya. The play was hailed as a commentary on turn-of-the-century Russian society when it premiered in 1899, but has managed to remain a theatrical mainstay as a result of its timeless subtext, which speaks to universal issues like unrequited love and unrealized dreams, plus themes of class-related frustrations. In other words, not much has changed. Writer Annie Baker has taken Chekhov’s work and made it into a modern and intimate experience for theater-goers—who will be seated in couches arranged around a 10 by 30 foot stage in the Wyly Studio Theatre, 2400 Flora Street. This linguistic renovation of a classic will open on Thursday, February 5 with a performance at 8 p.m. and continue through Sunday, February 22. Shows are Thursdays. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 at ticketdfw.com.
Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Starts: Feb. 5. Continues through Feb. 22, 2015