By JOSEPHINE NORRIS, Photo Editor.
The Bay City Players’ production of “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” however big of a mouthful the title is, is an absolute pleasure to watch. “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” is a comedy, written by Christopher Durang and inspired by Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard.” The play is centered on three siblings: Vanya, the peacemaker and often referee, Sonia, who is awkward yet endearing and sees herself as a “wild turkey,” and the famous and dominating Masha. This comedy encompasses themes of hope, regret, chasing your dreams and the fear of wasting your life, as the characters encounter old resentments and face change.
Sonia (Debbie Lake) and Vanya (Kurt Miller)have spent many years caring for their ailing and now deceased parents, while their famous sister Masha (Debra Monroe) has been traveling the world as a famous movie star. As the years go by, Vanya and Sonia feel as though they have wasted their lives, trapped in the home that all three of them have grown up in.
One day, Cassandra (Elise Williams), the prophetic cleaning woman, makes startling, yet true predictions of the events to come. The predictions include a sudden visit from the estranged Masha and her much, much younger boy toy, Spike (Olexiy Kryvych), who was almost in “The Entourage 2” – almost. Masha’s visit brings Nina (Terese March), a naïve, but very sweet aspiring actress next door, into the siblings’ lives and provides them with confidence and a hope that maybe they haven’t wasted their lives after all.
Christopher Durang has done an amazing job with crafting characters that are both interesting and so real, as well as creating the believable sibling dynamics of the three main characters. It is easy to see why this play won not only a Drama Desk award, but also a Tony award.
The actors of the Bay City Players have brought Durang’s characters to vibrant life and are a pleasure to watch. Kurt Miller, Debbie Lake and Debra Monroe had amazing chemistry as the three siblings Vanya, Sonia and Masha. Their onstage interactions were so much fun to watch. I mean, nothing says “my sibling is being ridiculous and I can’t stand it” like Vanya and Sonia’s numerous eyerolls at Masha. The supporting cast members were also great. Elise William’s soothsayer monologues were beyond entertaining and fascinating to watch.
My favorite performance was by Debbie Lake playing Sonia. Debbie Lake inhabited this character and helped Sonia become humorously awkward yet all the while touching.
This show is perfect for a night out filled with laughter and endearing characters. Suitable for teens and adults, due to a bit of language and Spike’s, um, well, being comfortable appearing in just his underwear on stage.
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” runs Jan. 24, 25, 30, 31, and Feb. 1. The Bay City Players are located at 1214 Columbus Ave, Bay City, MI. Tickets are available online at baycityplayers.com or through the box office via phone at 989-893-5555.