New Saloon’s irreverent mashup of English-language translations of Uncle Vanya — from the dusty 1916 edition to Google Translate’s wack results — is a kaleidoscopic amplification of Chekhov’s depressing comedy. Each character is interpreted by multiple actors and through multiple translations, in an athletic attempt to say one true thing. “I’ve been made a complete fool,” Vanya says, “foolishly betrayed,” Vanya agrees, “stupidly cheated,” Vanya clarifies.
New Saloon (Milo Cramer, Morgan Green, and Madeline Wise) handcraft original performances — from evening-length dramas to two-minute dance videos. They celebrate the unique and enduring aspects of live performance and the dramatic canon; putting ancient traditions in dialogue with contemporary aesthetics, politics, and new media.