Minor Character (Under the Radar)

“Not only does the wild production reveal an acutely clever director...but the performers demonstrate solid acting chops and musicality...The music...is in fine contrast to the dialogue and one of the high points of ‘Minor Character’...Celebrates Chekhov’s wit and humor taking it to an extraordinary level as profound themes glide under the surface of our laughter. You can ride the waves of fun including the variant English translations of character dialogue with the marvelous cast.” Full Review

“Any production of ‘Uncle Vanya’ inevitably rises and falls on the success of its translation...New Saloon has incorporated six...The result is a giddy, vodka-spiked concoction that Chekhov fans will lap up. The translations aren’t woven together tapestry-style; rather, they’re piled on top of each other...If you aren’t familiar with ‘Vanya’, it’ll take you a scene or two to get up to speed. And even if you are familiar, it might take you a few minutes to figure out who’s who.” Full Review

"The script jumps from translation to translation...There are also a few musical moments, including a fine ensemble chorale...Aside from the occasional starkly contemporary phrasing, there's no clear difference between the translations made apparent...The concept may wear thin after a while, but, as performed by a very enthused company, it's the kind of enjoyable off-beat fun that downtown festivals thrive on." Full Review

"A surprisingly solid 'Vanya'...Director Morgan Green and the ensemble...find a slightly manic rhythm that brings out the wry comedy...The doubling and the retreading of lines does feel very Chekhovian, I’m not sure it actually illuminates the play in a meaningful way...As a jigsaw puzzle of Chekhov, it’s charming, witty, and even oddly moving. But it feels like 'Minor Character' wants to be more than creditable Chekhov, and it never quite rose to that level for me." Full Review

"The oddness and the excess of this mash-up can be fun, and occasionally funny...If you don’t already know Chekhov well, the horseplay might serve as distraction, lessening your incentive to focus on the drama...'Minor Character' is not as sharply funny as Chekhov parodies like Durang’s, nor as moving as some recent more straightforward productions of 'Uncle Vanya.' But the presence of such an ebullient cast seems to give the play a subtext that overtakes the text." Full Review

“It’s incredibly interesting. But also...aggravating...Main characters are played by several actors...With only a stole or a pair of gloves to hint at whom they’re playing, you can easily lose track. You don’t lose track of Greenspan though. Greenspan unearths laughs I’ve never heard Serebryakov get...But in keeping with the New Saloon aesthetic — I’d boil it down to twee with brains — more effort goes into feeding the stunt than nurturing the story. That’s a shame." Full Review

"'Minor Character' is a state-of-the-art collection of avant-garde theatrical tropes, if not innovations...After a promising beginning, featuring a chorus line of Chekovian kvetchers, this approach yields a remarkably repetitive series of effects that neither honor the original nor do they yield any new insights or comedy...Morgan Green's direction keeps a fairly tight lid on these proceedings, keeping them from spinning into chaos." Full Review

“New Saloon uses not one English translation but six, creating a mash-up effect that results in characters frequently repeating a line in various renderings...On top of the textual layers is a cast whose parts are continually changing...For those who go into this show knowing ‘Uncle Vanya’, keeping up is a challenge. For those who don't, it's an exercise in futility...The theatrical experiment of ‘Minor Character’ tickles the intellect, but it leaves the soul unmoved.” Full Review