Anton’s Uncles

2011

Anton’s Uncles is an adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. This new work is a deconstruction of the original where only the men remain from the cast of nine characters. The text is a distillation of the original with new material added. The movement score emphasizes the unspoken, unseen, and unexpressed for a fresh, physical, and funny impression of Chekhov’s classic.

Anton’s Uncles is created by TMB co-founders Tina Kronis and Richard Alger, was originally produced by Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy and premiered on their stage.

TEAM

Director/Choreographer – Tina Kronis

Playwright – Richard Alger & Tina Kronis

Scenic Design – Eddie Bledsoe

Costume Designer – Ellen McCartney

Lighting Design –Chris Kuhl and Richard Alger

Sound Design – Kronis & Alger

ENSEMBLE

Mark Skeens

Ernesto Cayabyab

Derrick Oshana

Jacxon L. Ryan

Kevin Chambers

Zachary Turnquist.

Publicity

The flyer design can be downloaded here

Press

The press pack for this production will be available to download soon.

Fringe Review ★★★★★

In a very physical, affecting and regularly humorous adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, Theatre Movement Bazaar set out before us a breathtaking theatrical journey, drawing on the original text and adding in plenty of their own words and bold interpretation. It’s a remix, a homage and, most of all, thoroughly engaging work. Four men remain from the original play’s roll call, struggling with their desires, their hopes and their fears, trying to draw together the often bewildering threads of their biographies. The stories of each are separate and yet they are bound together, with a sometimes frustrating sense of inseparability. Wretchedly content in places, deeply dissatisfied in others, these four are eloquent after-dinner speakers at the banquet of their own pain.

The piece flows and changes, visually, vocally and musically like a switchback railway. There really are several pieces of theatre going on at the same time and you could return and just focus on each one at each new viewing: the theatre of eye contact, the theatre of dialogue, the theatre of dance and physical gesture, the theatre of musical mood and humour, and the theatre of ensemble movement. I went to see it twice. I’ll go and see it again, and this is a show where I’ll notice something new and precious each time.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Review ★★★★★

In this fresh and physical look at Chekhov’s ground-breaking play, Uncle Vanya, only the men remain, wrestling with their desires. The Los Angeles-based Theatre Movement Bazaar explodes this classic play of lives unlived, merging the original text with new writing, movement, dancing and singing to emphasize the unspoken, unseen and unexpressed.

This unconventional piece of theatre is superb! Whilst it has a relatively simple set, it is technically difficult to stage as it involves a huge amount of synchronisation with dance, movement and voice. The dialogue is sharp, witty and the audience are captivated and drawn right into the play. Back stage crew are also pulled into this synchronicity as they bring on and then remove items of the set. The dancing at times is slightly surrealistic, but that just adds to the ingenuity of this piece of theatre.

Not to be missed!