This weekend, I visited the Herberger Theater Center to see Christopher Durang’s “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” put on by the Arizona Theatre Company.
The comedy play premiered at the McCarter Theater in 2012 before its transfer to Broadway in 2013. The show was nominated for six Tony Awards and took one home for Best Play.
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” tells the story of three siblings and their childhood home. Vanya and Sonia have no jobs and stay at home all day while their sister, Masha, a famous actress, pays all the bills. Masha is in her early 40s and in love with Spike, a 29-year-old shirt-popping actor. Other characters include Cassandra, a cleaning lady who can see the future — her namesake, of course, coming from Greek mythology — and Nina, a star-struck up-and-coming actress who is Masha’s biggest fan.
For one weekend, all their lives intertwine. Vanya and Sonia don’t want Masha to sell the house, while Masha is scared that Nina is going to steal her Spike. Cassandra is there, too, predicting it all before it happens.
Even though the show is a comedy, it pulls on the heartstrings of the older audience. As much as it’s about family, it is about change and nostalgia — the longing for a time where people licked postage stamps and used rotary-dial phones.
It is witty and funny, and while younger generations may not pick up on the references to days past, it opens viewers’ eyes to the fact that what is new today will soon be something of yesterday. Somehow, all of this is wrapped up in a costume party where everyone must match Masha’s Snow White costume.
The production was able to capture every bit of the feeling that Christopher Durang set out to capture in his characters.
The first thing I want to say is that this is one of my favorite sets I have ever seen. Sets in other shows tend to feel flat; this was a 3-D stage with layers of rooms that really made it feel like you were peeking into a window of this suburban house. The show only takes place in one spot, so it allowed the company to utilize a very intricate set.
Cast members included Suzanne Bouchard as Masha, Joshua James Campbell as Spike, Ali Rose Dachis as Nina, Suzanne Warmanen as Sonia, Isabell Monk O’Connor as Cassandra. Charles Janasz, who portrayed Vanya, gave the standout performance of the cast. In the second act, he delivers one of the most well-written monologues I have ever heard. If there was one reason to see this show, that scene alone is worth it.
The second act, in my opinion, was much stronger than the first. It seems as if the first act just consists of complaining and disputes between characters, but that is what causes the second act to even happen. There was no question in my mind about why the show is as acclaimed as it is after I witnessed Vanya’s outburst.
There is bad language in the show, so I wouldn’t recommend bringing the kids. There are plenty of pop-culture references and the characters do help bridge an age gap of audience members. Vanya, Sonia and Masha are all the past, while Spike’s character shows what has changed over time in both culture and technology.
I can’t express how relevant this story is. It’s modern and thought-provoking. The characters are over-the-top, yes, but that is how you find a bit of yourself in each of them.
If you want a good laugh but also want to think, this is the show to see.
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” will be playing at the Herberger Theater Center through Oct. 26. Tickets range from $36 to $60.
Contact the author at Jacqueline.Cotton@asu.edu. Contact the columnist at mbilker@asu.edu.
