Anton Chekhov´s drama Uncle Vanya (Tio Vania) opened April 12 at The TBC Hall in Sao Paulo. The play is directed by Elcio Nogueira and runs through August 2nd, 1998.

Chekhov´s well known play Uncle Vanya is the story of a man shocked by the fact that he is not the person he wished to be. Close to his fiftieth birthday the distressed Vanya realizes that he neither became a rich man, nor found someone to love, and also hadn´t achieved anything in his professional life. Unable to cope with his anguishes, Vanya definitely considers his life a failure.

Anton Chekhov, a Russian dramatist and a short-story writer, is one of the foremost figures in Russian Literature. As is the example of Uncle Vanya, his plays like his stories, are also studies of the spiritual failure of characters in a society that is disintegrating. Some of his works were originally rejected in Moscow, but his technique has become accepted by modern playwrights around the world, and his plays appear frequently in theatrical repertoires.

The Brazilian version of Uncle Vanya, stars established actresses Mariana Lima and Leona Cavali, plus brilliant actor Renato Borghi as Vanya.

Performances are from Thursday to Saturday - 9PM; Sunday - 8PM. Tickets cost R$12,00. Information call 011 606 4408 at The TBC Hall in Sao Paulo. --By Nertutila Achao

Brazil Correspondent