To celebrate its 26th anniversary, the Janus Theatre Company continues its “Call to Adventure” season with an Elgin production of “Life Sucks,” a “sort of adapted” version of Anton Chekhov’s classic “Uncle Vanya.” Playwright Aaron Posner calls his new production “a new riff on an old tune”; it’s an invigorating, satirical comedy that focuses on middle age, life, love and hope. And Posner has brought it up to date with flashbacks.

A group of seven old friends, ex-lovers and lifelong enemies have gathered at a family’s country estate. Vanya lives there with his niece Sonia; he has toiled for years to maintain the property. His pedantic brother, the professor, is visiting with his much younger wife Ella, and of course there are complications.

Vanya is infatuated with Ella; the professor wants to sell the property; niece Sonja is in love with Dr. Aster, who in turn is in love with Ella. Need I go on? According to Posner, there are “few sufferings more sublime than dealing with other people. More specifically, with family and friends.”

And I understand why producer and artistic director Sean Hargadon cast these actors – all seven are perfect in their roles. They embody their characters.

The show begins with the actors’ entrance, reminding you of cell phones, the unwrapping of bright candy, and the themes of love, longing, and loss, before moving into the Professor’s entrance, who tells the audience that the play “divides into four concise acts—just like Chekhov’s original, better play.”

Hargadon and stage manager Tara Morrison present an effective staging and impressive pacing on an intimate set designed by Hargadon and supported by the cast: from copies of National Geographic on the Persian-rug-printed floor to leather chairs, a chessboard and a well-used globe bar.

There are several great scenes that show the chemistry between the characters and give insight into their personalities:

Pickles’ (Jennifer Reeves Wilson) revelation about love; the Professor’s (Ken Kaden) devastating monologue about aging; the exchange between Dr. Aster and Sonia (Sam Fain and Tiffany Jasinski) about their lives and unrequited love.

Babs and Vanya’s (Marge Uhlarik-Boller and Aaron Hoge) gratitude and crazy Oscar recognition; Vanya’s (Aaron Hoge) speech about the joy having faded; Ella and Sonia’s (Heidi Swarthout and Tiffany Jasinski) discussion about stepmotherhood and friendship; and all the characters’ interactions with Vanya. These scenes really show that in Posner and Chekhov’s plays, there are no winners, only survivors.

Aaron Hoge is a wonderful Vanya. He is handsome, arrogant and makes his character seem believably depressed, moody, self-confident and in love with his brother’s wife, Ella. He wants to live happily in the here and now, but the joy has evaporated. “I did everything wrong – all that matters is real.” Hoge is a likeable character actor who makes you believe that dreams never come true. He is great.

Sam Fain is Dr. Aster, Vanya’s best friend who lives “300 yards away.” He is an idealist and also in love with Ella. Aster has a drinking problem and works too much. Fain is a charming and accomplished actor and makes you believe that his character carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Sonia, played by Tiffany Jasinski, is unhappy, but her beauty shines through. Sonia’s anguish over her unrequited love for Dr. Aster and the situation with Ella, her stepmother, is obvious and well-acted. Jasinski is a fresh and engaging actress.

Heidi Swarthout is both seductive and radiant as Ella. Her character is fed up with everyone falling in love with her. Swarthout is lively and emotional and her movements are reminiscent of an ocelot. She is a radiant and irresistible actress.

Ken Kaden portrays the Professor as frustrated, egotistical, pompous and brilliant. He makes you believe he is “terminally ill – suffering from ALT”. The Professor, who left his first marriage when Sonia was 7, is married to Ella, his third wife, and honestly cannot understand why she is still with him. Kaden is an excellent and dedicated actor.

Marge Uhlarik-Boller is a delightful Babs, the calmer of the household, an aunt to Sonia. Uhlarik-Boller’s Babs is warm, sensitive, witty and has the wisdom not to judge others. Boller brings out the dry humor of the situation and breathes life into her character as a ceramic artist who travels a lot. Uhlarik-Boller also has a great, haunting voice; she is a brilliant actress.

Jennifer Reeves Wilson is a charming Pickles. She is a crazy relative, Vanya’s stepsister, with a good heart who lost the love of her life 17 years ago and still hasn’t recovered. Pickles is loyal, does crafts and Wilson is a believable, engaging, entertaining and poignant actress.

Under Hargadon’s direction, the entire ensemble demonstrates dramatic instinct and skill with Posner’s words. Characters repeatedly break the fourth wall to give the actors the opportunity to address the audience directly. One of the best is Ella’s (Swarthout) three-part moral question. Swarthout says, “The audience is actually the eighth cast member.”

Hargadon says: “In theatre, it works when you focus on the essentials – just actors with an audience and a story to tell.” And these seven actors do it exceptionally well!

(The play contains adult content and language. The air conditioning will be turned off at the beginning of the performance so that we can hear the actors better.)

• Regina Belt-Daniels loves the world of theater. She has been performing in shows since first grade and has worked in many capacities from actress to director with RCLPC, TownSquare Players, Woodstock Musical Theatre, McHenry County College’s Black Box Theatre, Elgin Theatre Company, Independent Players and Raue Center For The Arts. This is her 10th year writing theater reviews for the Shaw Local News Network.

WHEN YOU GO

• WHAT: “Life Sucks” presented by Janus Theatre Company

• WHERE: Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., 8th Floor, Elgin

• WHEN: Until 25 August

• COST: $20

• INFORMATION: Tickets at Eventbrite, tinyurl.com/4c599kap