ABSTRACT
. . .There are passages of remarkably good acting throughout this production. Certainly I have never seen two of the minor parts played nearly as well; Marina (the family nurse) and the Professor. Dame Sybil's performance is quite perfect. For the first time we are made truly aware of the contribution which this calm little melodic part makes to the symphonic whole . . . and Mr. Harcourt Williams not only acted admirably the peevish self-importance of the old invalid, but succeeded also in suggesting the imposing plausibility of the ancient aesthetic gasbag. I have seen four performances of the play, but never before a Professor who made it easy to take for granted that he had been able to enslave two beautiful young women and win the awed devotion of the critical Vanya in his youth. But when Mr. Harcourt Williams rose like a statesman to address the family gathering, resplendent in velvet waistcoat and chain as if he were already back in Petersburg, his ailments forgotten, mellifluously moderate in stating his preposterous demands, swinging his pince-nez, and now and then lifting his well-groomed beard, then indeed could one credit the venerable vampire with past triumphs and his bogus reputation.
