Ivanov review, Festival Theatre, Chichester

The last time I saw Ivanov, Kenneth Branagh was the lead, and Michael Grandage's production was so ploddy I left at the interval. Three other punters later told me they'd  done the same. Ivanov, then, was the production I was least looking forward to as part of Chichester Festival Theatre's Chekhov cycle. Even with dramatisation by David Hare, and Sam West heading the cast. Let's face it, there's nothing more deeply unsexy than a man who spends his days in a state of contemplative self-loathing, neglects and insults his dying wife, refuses to repay his debts, and is rude to everyone within a ten yard radius. And there's nothing more deeply unlikely than his getting jumped by a girl half his age.

It's a Chekhov theme of course: beautiful young women wanting to save miserable married men from themselves. And their wives. This puts into perspective the discrepancies in age, beauty, and availability, between the current crop of Russian oligarchs and their partners. The 'sell' is that these men are tortured intellectuals, but the only evidence in Ivanov is a study full of papers. Ivanov's mantra, which is what we're examining, is that he's honest, but how reliable is honesty when personal interests, intentions, and ideals are factored in? One man's honesty is another's self-delusion or cruelty. Will Ivanov see that honesty and truth are not the same and can he handle it?

High levels of navel gazing can be irritating, especially where characterisation is entirely centred on personal flaws. What reason have we as an audience to care about, or invest in, the outcomes of these miserable buggers? Thankfully Jonathan Kent's lively production ensures constant movement and the comedic moments are so beautifully drawn you keep watching. The excellent ensemble cast includes Peter Egan, Brian Pettifer, Jonathan Coy, Beverley Klein, Lucy Briers and Des McAleer. Nina Sosanya as Ivanov's wife Anna, and Olivia Vinall as Sasha, are, for a second time in the play cycle (comprising Platanov, Ivanov, The Seagull), pitted against each other in a visceral bitch-fight for their man.

In conclusion: Ivanov is classic Chekhov and this production makes it come alive in a way I had not expected. That said, all the handwringing and sighing makes me yearn for an additional act where an infant Lenin wades in, gives them all a clout, and releases the serfs who keep getting shouted at for forgetting to add gooseberry jam to the moneylender's tea.

References
Ivanov, Chichester Festival Theatre, Tickets

Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Park, Chichester.  Run ends 14 November