The director is stepping down as head of the theatre to pursue his film career.

"Mendes succeeds in lightening the mood, playing the scene as farce rather than tragedy," wrote BBC News Online's Steve Schifferes.

"Stealing the show is Helen McCrory as Yelena, the femme fatale who is the cause of all the trouble on the estate that summer," he added.

But what do you think? Has Mendes gone out on a high?

Does he do justice to Chekhov's classic? Should he be leaving theatre at all? Send us your views.

Fabulous cast, fabulous script but why was so much of the action at the sides ? At least 25% couldn't be seen if you were sitting in the stalls at the sides. Did the table have to be quite so long (or even be there at all !)? But all worth it just to see Simon Russell Beale, or only fleetingly !
Sam Mead, UK