Vanya at Foggy Bottom

For those whose Russian sensibilities were formed with Dr. Zhivago or set in an age of Reality TV (say, Slavs Gone Wild), there's a new adaptation of Chekhov's masterpiece, Uncle Vanya, at the Kennedy Center (to 8/27). You may ask yourself why an easily accessible, naturalistic play, only a hundred or so years old, would need a new interpretation. Could it be A) To obviate those satisfying memories of all the movies and productions we've witnessed in the past, B) To tie it to the platform of a Hollywood Star, on a promotional tour of her and her husband's company, C) To fill up the house during the dead month of August, or D) To gather as many Helen Hayes nominations for a non-resident company as possible with an eye toward the Tony Awards or feature film? Pat yourself on the back if you've answered yes to all of the above.

For some reason Washingtonians will go to great lengths to see a box office star, something they can avail themselves of on any given night in Manhattan. Cate Blanchett is certainly that with many justifiable accolades accumulated during her still unfolding career.

There's a bit of marketing sleight-of- hand in the Kennedy Center's offering, though, which touts Ms. Blanchett as the principal. The main attraction is not a lead character as she was in A Streetcar Named Desire (when she played Blanche); she's played off of by others, chiefly Vanya, Astrov, Sonya, and Serebryakov, her husband, who each, in their sizable roles, take her for something she is not. (Quick summary: everyone is in love with or desires someone else.) And at 42, Ms. Blanchett is a bit of a stretch as Chekhov's 27 year-old vixen Yelena, the second wife of a professor, while the irony of her stepmother relationship to Sonya is lost.

Ordinarily, these would be small points to swallow, if the tickets weren't scaled to Broadway prices. If you want to sit on the lower level, get ready to shell out upwards of135 bucks a seat, while a view from the nose bleed section costs 59 dollars. Throw in fees, parking, dinner, and some souvenirs and you're looking at $200-300 or more for you and your guest. Forget about seeing Ms. Blanchett up close; those seats are gone. You'll have to buy a membership (starting at $60) for the privilege of purchasing your tickets, in advance, maybe for next year's star passage. Or try an online broker.

In addition to the price, you'll have to ask yourself whether these "Scenes from Country Life" - the play's subtitle - are in keeping with the author's script and subtext, for this or any other time; or whether it's just a bunch of sound and fury, signifying nothing. But while you do, hurry, the last few rows of this 1,000 plus seat house are filling up fast, on both levels!