Vanya on 42nd Street

Neither documentary, theatrical performance, nor traditional screen adaptation, Vanya on 42nd Street reunites Louis Malle with his My Dinner with Andre stars—Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn—for a performance of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya as a rehearsal/reading. Gregory had been staging this private exploratory exercise for years with a group of actors whenever their schedules would permit, and Malle was invited to film the project, which was performed in street clothes with impromptu props. Shawn, Julianne Moore, Brooke Smith, George Gaynes, and Larry Pine take the lead roles, with Gregory directing and, occasionally, providing basic narration between acts. Malle captures a creative collaboration that has a life of its own, a production staged for the pleasure of the artists themselves, resulting in an intimate film that is as much about the actor's art as the playwright's drama. While the outside world of New York City, circa 1994, is never more than an echo of street noise or a contemporary logo away, Malle reminds us that the spell of a well-told story eclipses our awareness of modern garb or minimal sets. Making its second appearance on DVD and first on Blu-ray, this handsome Criterion Collection release features a new retrospective documentary with cast and crew interviews. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)