Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike
by Christopher Durang
Directed by Chris Berthelot
Produced by Allen Contemporary Theatre
Audience Rating: R for language and adult situations
Run Time: 2 hours 35 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Performance: Not Available
Production Sound Level: Comfortable Volume
Noises or Visuals to Prepare For: Wailing, Glitter
Reviewed by Jenny Wood
Much has already been said about Allen Contemporary Theatre’s production of Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike (hereafter shortened to “Vanya”) by Christopher Durang. I’m a little late to the game because I wasn’t able to attend until the last day of Opening Weekend - absolutely exhausted, but excited to settle in for a familiar favorite show presented by familiar favorite faces.
I realize much of suburban North Texas may not recognize Vanya as a familiar favorite the way they recognize Steel Magnolias or The Odd Couple. The choice to present Vanya in this market embodies ACT’s mission to entertain and enrich the cultural life of their community through a wide variety of challenging and creative theatrical experiences.
People who love Christopher Durang’s work tend to remember their first encounter vividly. Director Chris Berthelot describes his in an elegant Director’s Note which I will not quote here so you must go see the show to get a copy! Mine was in the 8th grade when we did The Actor’s Nightmare for our UIL One-Act Play submission - in retrospect it was a perfectly accessible introduction to Durang’s highbrow black comedy.
Vanya is a cozy, nostalgic story about family and feelings set “in a lovely farmhouse in Bucks County Pennsylvania circa 2010.” The sort of story you can cuddle up with on an October afternoon. Comforting like The Office reruns, smart and sharply funny like Veep.
Like each of those shows, the success of Vanya relies heavily on the chemistry and commitment of a truly ensemble cast.
Local favorites Robert San Juan (Vanya), Molly Bower (Sonia), Kelly Moore Clarkson (Masha) and Maxine Fauenheim play the titular three siblings and their housekeeper Cassandra. Newer-to-Allen (or maybe just newer to me?) actors Benjamin McElroy (Spike) and Caitlyn Cole (Nina) match them beat for beat to complete the merry band.
I hesitate to describe performances as “brave” – it’s a word often used by commentators transferring their own insecurities onto the performer being described. Instead, I will say the performances are a unified commitment to empathy and emotion. Bower truly becomes the wild turkey to Clarkson’s Hummel figurine; Cole masters the affectations of Dopey the Dwarf. Drink when McElroy’s eyes pop, waterfall when he starts checking his phone.
And when Frauenheim’s Cassandra launches into prophecy or San Juan’s Vanya begins his slow burn into the climactic monologue, please please give those speeches as much attention to detail as this production as given to building world they describe – it will crack you up then break your heart in exactly the best way Theatre can.
Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike continues through October 20, AllenContemporaryTheatre.net for info and tickets.
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