Audronis Liuga / 7 meno dienos

What does the Wood Demon mean to them?

2009-04-17

Vaidotas Martinaitis’ Vanya  is the most reasoned  and thought out role. Martinaitis is one of those actors who don’t “try on” a role, but dive into it. Whether he’s putting together the mask of the character from the smallest pieces, like a mosaic, or seeking psychological truth, Martinaitis does it sincerely and passionately. Apparently it wasn’t without the help of the director that the theme of the role appeared – the conflict between feelings and conscience.  It was especially strong in Lacascade’s early play “Ivanov”, and, in this regard, “Uncle Vanya” is a kind of continuation. Martinaitis’ Vanya is not some sort of “rebel without a cause”, he is just a sensitive man, who feels his life slipping away and is bitter about the fact. To him Yelena is like a mirage of a water spring to a parched person. He does not know what he falls in love with, but he feels the urge to give vent to his feelings that have accumulated over a long period of time.

But before that Vanya must overcome his shyness and get rid of his chagrin, in other words, to transcend himself. Not able to find a more appropriate way to do this, he pours a bucket of water on his head like would drink a bottle of vodka, and then hectically confesses his love to Yelena. The scene when despairing Vanya rips up the now redundant bouquet he meant to give to Yelena in front of Serebryakov, and then gets so ashamed that he cannot find a place for himself, best expresses the nature of the character.