Life Sucks.
by Aaron Posner

Name: Life Sucks.
Brand: Aaron Posner
SKU: 9780822236948
Rating: 4.06 (108 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Life Sucks. Book Cover — Life Sucks. Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 minsPresent DayUnit Set/Multiple SettingsContemporary Costumes/Street ClothesComedy

What readers are saying

Readers have mixed feelings about the adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya in 'Life Sucks,' with many appreciating its modernization and humor. However, some feel it lacks the depth of the original, and a few note moments of pretentiousness. Overall, it garners both praise for character development and critiques for missing iconic elements from Chekhov's work.

Humorous and thoughtful writingStrong character developmentEngaging audience participationMissing iconic moments from originalSome moments feel pretentious

Synopsis

In this brash reworking of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya , a group of old friends, ex-lovers, estranged in-laws, and lifelong enemies gather to grapple with life’s thorniest questions – and each other.

What could possibly go wrong?

Incurably lustful and lonely, hapless and hopeful, these seven souls collide and stumble their way towards a new understanding that Life Sucks !

Or does it?

Press Reviews

"Comic gold… filled with laughs and anarchic asides… Posner’s ear for comedy is reminiscent of Mel Brooks in his prime."
— Broadway World

"[A] delightful Chekhov riff... the play defies traditional categories like ‘comedy’ or ‘drama,’ so let’s just settle for calling it ‘fantastic."
— Time Out Chicago

"[Life Sucks.] is altogether wise, profoundly humane, hilarious, quirky, endearing and, in countless clever ways, brilliantly faithful to its source… Posner has managed to find his own voice in the process, bringing a playful, far from cynical, fourth-wall-piercing originality to the story."
— Chicago Sun-Times

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
VANYA 45. A ruminator. A kvetch. A smart, sweet, passionate, insightful, wound-tight failure.	—	45	45. A ruminator. A kvetch. A smart, sweet, passionate, insightful, wound-tight failure.
SONIA 24. Kind, caring, and quirky. Serious self-esteem issues. Not comfortable in her body.	female	24	24. Kind, caring, and quirky. Serious self-esteem issues. Not comfortable in her body.
ELLA 36. Searching, frustrated, hopeful, and sad. Very attractive and rampantly desirable.	—	36	36. Searching, frustrated, hopeful, and sad. Very attractive and rampantly desirable.
BABS 64. Vibrant, artistic, outspoken, and even enlightened. A great soul and scrappy wit.	—	64	64. Vibrant, artistic, outspoken, and even enlightened. A great soul and scrappy wit.
THE PROFESSOR 62. Big mind, big ego, big vocabulary, small-ish soul. Selfish. Well-meaning.	—	62	62. Big mind, big ego, big vocabulary, small-ish soul. Selfish. Well-meaning.
DR. ASTER 52. Broken, beautiful, dissatisfied, savvy, and sad. He cares deeply and oddly.	male	52	52. Broken, beautiful, dissatisfied, savvy, and sad. He cares deeply and oddly.
PICKLES 40ish. An odd, sweet, loyal duck. Very literal. A relentlessly positive utopian lesbian.	—	40ish	40ish. An odd, sweet, loyal duck. Very literal. A relentlessly positive utopian lesbian.