Theatre

A bunch of grumpy, turn-of-the-century Russians, frustrated in their romantic aspirations, sitting around in an echoey old house saying how bored they are and how things must change while a play is being rehearsed in the background – it must be Chekhov. Except that it’s not, because here the revolutionary politics are more pronounced, the resolution (when it finally comes, after nearly three hours of alternately pungent and wistful chatter) is more determinedly resolute, and the tone is much harsher – consequently it must be the work of Chekhov’s theatrical heir, the political radical Gorky (a pen name that actually means ‘bitter’ in Russian).

Howard Davies’ production showcases a wealth of magnificently unselfish character work from an outstanding cast. But even their genius is in danger of being eclipsed by Bunny Christie’s brilliant stage design. A three-storey building façade, with characters looking out moodily from its different levels, initially towers over the stage.

Suddenly it starts to slide into the ground and the front peels away to reveal a vast, denuded interior, as comfortless as any home could possibly be. Rain scars the windows while, to the left, a staircase rises vertiginously, though as a visual element it provides the opposite of uplift – it seems to be there principally to reinforce the sense that the characters are caged together in some terrible netherworld where they are destined to torment one another perpetually.

Tormentor-in-chief is oppressive bourgeois paterfamilias Vassily (a Steptoe père-ish Phil Davis), who betrays his idealistic son (Rory Kinnear) and haggles with the local doctor while his depressive daughter (Ruth Wilson) apparently lies dying.  

Andrew Upton’s punchy, vigorous new English version has much to recommend it, although it perhaps lays too much emphasis on sexual rather than political revolution, and the vulgar triumphalism of lodger Elena’s parting ‘I’m going to fuck him’ speech, for all that it gets a big laugh, strikes a false note in an otherwise beautifully orchestrated performance.