Krymov Lab NYC at LaMama
Uncle Vanya Turned on Its Head
By: Susan Hall - Apr 03, 2026
The Krymov Lab NYC is presenting its unique, lively version of Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov at La MaMa in New York.
Dimitry Krymov had more than five plays running in Moscow when he planned a visit to New York in 2022. Putin invaded Ukraine just as he left, and Krymov decided not to return to Russia. New York is fortunate to have him staging work here. There is much to learn from his gift for drawing in an audience and helping them live within his productions.
Krymov turns Vanya upside down. Now Yelena, the second wife of the aging Professor—who has ruined the lives of all around him—is center stage. Before she arrives, signs trundle in on what look like cleaning robots, text hovering above them. We are in informed: this is a stage. It is empty. The backdrop is a crude drawing of the estate.
The floor will fill with dead flies, yellow chicken feathers, scraps of paper—whatever accumulates. Chairs are pulled on for the characters to sit and wait. Some pay attention while others speak. Some just stare.
Shelby Flannery plays Yelena, and she is a wonderful actress, coming alive as she strips down to a corset and long silk stockings. She seems ready for the action her beauty invites. Men can’t take their eyes off her—including her husband’s brother-in-law, the titled Vanya (Zach Fike Hodges), and the local doctor, Astrov (Javier Molina).
We are immediately reminded that we are on a farm when a he (MaryKate Glenn) gives birth to a chick and a rooster (Sasha Drey) struts about, doing what roosters do. Yes, he even puffs himself up for sex, which none of the other males on stage seem able to do. Kissing is in the air.
Krymov keeps us present by being outrageous. Colin Buckingham plays Sererryaykov as the midge he truly is, although of course he sees himself as a giant. The hen strips, Waffles (Amen Igbinosun) is a huge, lumbering hulk of a man, and Sonya—ah, Sonya (Natalloie Battistone). She is quite adorable here, although memories of her complaints about being plain linger. Her Nany (Tim Eliot) has stayed with the family.
The Professor and his wife have returned from St. Petersburg and disrupted life at the estate. No one is doing anything anymore. Bookkeeping chores have been put aside. Flies are everywhere. Mama (Anya Zicer) presents tea which remains untouched. Men drink too much. The Doctor, who once wanted to save the planet environmentally, is now obsessed with the Professor’s wife.
Music ranges from a single plucked string dividing moments to Bach at the end, when Vanya and Sonya prepare to go on.
And boom—Vanya erupts. He is mad because no one is paying attention to him. He is the title character. What is he to do?
Go see Uncle Vanya at La MaMa and find out. This wonderful production brings laughter and tears.