National Theatre Live: Vanya

"Vanya" is all show and no depth; a specious spectator sport. The fact that is has been so well received says much about the present climate of our culture.

The hallmarks of great acting are subtlety and nuance, when a mere glance, a small gesture or a slight vocal inflection can tell us volumes about a character. Subtlety and nuance have never been Andrew Scott's strong suit. A vanity project such as this egotistical one-man show which allows him free reign to flaunt his undoubted talents, was for me an experience that bordered on excruciating.

Perhaps his status as one of the most prominent actors of his generation is something that prevents directors from curbing his outlandish bag of tricks. His overacting is at times jaw dropping. I don't doubt his talent, but he is in dire need of an authoritative director to harness his irritating mannerisms and guide him towards an intelligent and meaningful performance. Every minute of "Vanya" screams "look what a smart boy I am". Letting him loose in this poorly written adaptation, under the helm of an admiring director, spells disaster.

The very idea of turning Uncle Vanya into a one-man show is pointless, and worse, ludicrous. If you are genuinely interested in "Uncle Vanya" search out the filmed versions with Michael Redgrave, widely considered the greatest of all Vanyas or David Warner in the BBC version. The performances in these versions, both with outstanding casts, exemplify the meaning of subtlety and nuance.