Chekhov gets another send-up with ‘Life Sucks’ Custom Made Theatre in SF
“Life Sucks” is a pretty succinct summary of Anton Chekhov’s classic 1898 Russian drama (or very, very dark comedy) “Uncle Vanya.” Now it’s the title of a new “Vanya”-inspired comedy by Aaron Posner making its Bay Area premiere at San Francisco’s Custom Made Theatre Co.
Posner was once known in the Bay Area for touching, back-to-back adaptations of Chaim Potok’s “My Name Is Asher Lev” at Marin Theatre Company” and “The Chosen” at TheatreWorks, both in 2009 (around the same time he directed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Cal Shakes).
In more recent years, Posner has become notorious for brash, profane and metatheatrical riffs on Chekhov, starting with his “Seagull” remix “Stupid (Expletive) Bird” at San Francisco Playhouse in 2015.
Now if someone would just bring Posner’s “No Sisters” to the Bay, his cheeky Chekhov trilogy would be complete.
Details: Through June 1; Custom Made Theatre, 533 Sutter St., San Francisco; $30-$49; 415-798-2682, www.custommade.org