Vanya with Andrew Scott

The Duke of York Theatre. September 23, 2023.

The best performance I’ve seen all year. Give this man ALL THE AWARDS.

It’s a tour de force, a triumph. It’s bloody brilliant.

Scott plays all the characters (and lighting tech, and stage management changing his own scenes and remembering where all the props need to be). He deftly moves between characters and I loved the simplicity of a prop or position on the stage or an affectation to signify each one. And it’s easy to “see” each character, to understand who’s speaking and what’s going on.

The adaptation is one of the best and clearest versions of Vanya I’ve seen. It’s heartbreakingly sad at times, then sharply witty. Bravo Simon Stephens.

It’s not Stephens and Scott’s first one-man-show-rodeo. Back pre pandemic their production of Sea Wall at the Old Vic was brilliant. However this takes it up another level with multi-characters, a complex narrative and it doesn’t skimp at 1hr 50 with no interval.

I particularly enjoyed Scott as Sonia with her unrequited love, kindness and hard work. I also liked the fun he was having with the minor characters of Maureen, Liam and Elizabeth.

Technically, emotionally and physically superb.

5/5 Standing ovation.