I rated this production very good indeed at the time and I can understand why. Superb cast, with Michael Gambon as Vanya, Imelda Staunton as Sonia, Greta Scatcchi as Yelena, Jonathan Pryce as Astrov, Michael Blakemore directing…
…here is a link to the Theatricalia entry for this production.
Bobbie and I went to this one. I recall sitting very near the front although probably not the very front row.
In 1988 I hadn’t yet formed an aversion to those old-fashioned theatre-land theatres, although we didn’t go to those places all that frequently.
I suspect that we had a late evening Chinese meal in Soho after the show – perhaps Poons, perhaps Mayflower, perhaps Joy King Lau…
A pretty darned good evening as I recall it.
Below is Michael Billington’s Guardian review of the production:
Michael Ratcliffe’s Observer review is below:
![](https://i0.wp.com/ianlouisharris.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Uncle-Vanya-11-June-1988.jpg?resize=727%2C1024&ssl=1)