National Theatre Live: Vanya

If you've never seen Uncle Vanya, this is not the adaptation you want to know the play by Anton Checkov: it won't give you any idea of what the original is about.

Andrew Scott plays all the characters. A bold move, but that's not the problem. He is an actor good enough to try it. His farcical adaptation is the problem. All the characters are defaced by an endless sequence of childish, pointless jokes and mannerisms, like a 5th grader mocking his teachers and aunties, making them caricatures of the originals.

He tries to catch up with tragic ethos of the play in the end, with the final monologue by Sonia, but then it's too late: all empathy one could have for her, her uncle, or anyone else in the play was already destroyed before.

What is more enraging is that this failure is not due to acting incompetence. It would be understandable if it was. But no, I really believe Andrew would be capable of pulling this off, with a different, I'd say even opposite, approach. What a great opportunity was lost here!

If you never saw Uncle Vanya and wants to be introduced to Checkov's classic by a movie, try 'August'. It's an adaptation by Anthony Hopkins set in his native Wales, which he stars, directs, and also wrote the soundtrack for.

To enjoy this version of Uncle Vanya, two conditions are essential:

• to be familiar with Anton Chekhov play;
• to be familiar with Andrew Scott manner to build his characters - his Hamlet can be useful prepair -.

Because , at first sight, it is a provocative version- one actor plays all the characters . The manner to do that is not real surprising - the accent on humor sides of each character was present in other adaptations. And Mr. Scott knows to use each nuance in fair - precise manner, fair reminding the play itself and its versions.

But, obvious, it is only an experiment, perfect for Andrew Scott who use, in brilliant way, entire liberty offered by lines , meanings of words and context.

Iloved the final of play, maybe little strident in this case but beautiful crafted.

So, no doubts, Andrew Scott deserves his Vanya and this play is the precious pledge for it.

I've never seen anything like this before: Andrew Scott plays every role in an adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya and delivers an astonishing performance. One quickly becomes accustomed to the conceit of one actor utilising a multiplicity of gestures, inflections, body language and mannerisms to depict different characters; Scott's exceptional skills in carrying this off have to be seen to be fully appreciated.

The adaptation of Chekhov's material is expertly devised and although there are many, many laughs in this production, what really strikes home is the deep emotional intensity of the performance. Scott is in tears at several points and it is both heartbreaking and exhilarating to witness.

Anyone who has the slightest interest in the theatre should make it a point to catch this film. Wonderfully filmed, with expressive and thoughtful camera work, it is an undiluted triumph for all concerned.

Wow. An amazing night in Liverpool. After seeing Vanya on stage I was not sure it would transfer to the big screen. How wrong I was. Andrew Scott's performance is as beautiful and heartfelt on screen as it was in the theatre. Watching it again transported me back to the theatre performance and the camera work brought the excellence of Scott's acting into sharp focus, I cannot remember what I paid for the theatre tickets but with train fares and other expenses it was in the hundreds. Full marks for the National Theatre for making this master class in acting and direction available to all, everywhere and at an affordable price. A must see. I am going again!

I am torn about this version. Yes, Andrew Scott once again proves himself to be an excellent actor. However, the manner in which he portrays the characters-through endless mannerisms and antics-seems out of place to me. It cheapens the story and the heartbreak of the characters' lives, without adding any depth or additional layers to the adaptation. Some of the jokes and the aforementioned physical comedy make the characters so cartoonish by the end that the final scene-which, in the book or in a classical adaptation, should tear your soul apart-fails to have the emotional impact it deserves.

I think it's a nice adaptation to watch (just not for the first time) if only to witness Andrew Scott's acting prowess. Besides, it's interesting to see the story through this director's eyes. Personally, I don't regret watching it, but I have no desire to see it again.