The Play Is Currently Open At Marilyn Fox’s Pacific Resident Theatre
Russian writer Anton Chekov (The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard) is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. He, along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, were the seminal figures in the birth of early theatrical modernism. Their collective works, illuminating the human condition, stands the passage of time. The reason I point this out is that subtle references are made to some of Chekov’s work in playwright Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, currently on stage at the Pacific Resident Theatre. Durang’s brilliance was to create comedies out of existential anger which is reflected in the characters in this most entertaining play and is perfectly aligned with Chekov.
Under Victoria Pearlman’s immaculate, sharp direction, the play, performed on William Wilday’s set design, begins with Vanya, superbly characterized by Brad Greenquist, having his morning coffee and reading the newspaper. His adopted sister Sonia, well done by Tania Getty, has been part of the family since she was seven years old. She appears with a cup of coffee and is angry that Vanya poured his own coffee. A heated exchange begins and she throws not one, but two coffee cups against the wall, smashing them to bits. She and Vanya have been living in the family home for decades, with both of them caring for their aging parents until they died.
Their parents, who were college professors and theatre aficionados, thought it would be fun to name their children after Chekov’s characters, hence the similarities. Both Vanya and Sonia feel as though they have accomplished nothing in their lives and don’t know what they have to look forward to. Following the cup smashing, they sit and pout until their fortune-teller housekeeper Cassandra, amazingly played by Cyndy Fujikawa, gives one of her predictions of doom and gloom including the smashed cups.
Sonia with a “gotcha” says, “It’s already happened.” Not to be thwarted, Cassandra continues, “Beware of Hootie Pie,” who know one knows, and in another outburst says they will lose the house. When she finishes with all her prophecies, the almost always calm Vanya quips, “I have asked you to just say good morning.” The next character to emerge is Masha, played by a splendid Martha Hackett who makes her entrance dressed in an elegant pink suit by costume designer Paula Bonhomme. Masha is an aging star of stage and screen and has been the breadwinner for the family, paying all attendant bills. She is flamboyant and boastful about a career that was but likes to believe she is still viable.
Her boy toy for the last three months is Spike, a splendid Zach Kanner, who is not just eye candy but has good acting chops. He spends most of the play in his underwear which is quite ok. After observing them together, Sonia quips, “He looks ten.” Spike defends their relationship, “I like older women.” Masha, annoyed at Sonia’s comment, instructs her, “You can’t talk until 4:30.”
Later, on looking out of an unseen window, the prima donna sees Spike talking to a young woman. After informing her siblings that she is thinking of selling the family home, almost in the same breath, says they are invited to a neighbor’s costume party and she is going as Snow White and wants the rest of the family to wear costumes that coordinate with hers. She instructs Vanya to come as Grumpy and when Sonia informs her that she wants to come as a beautiful witch, eventually decides to go as Maggie Smith.
Spike enters with beautiful Nina, an aspiring young actress well-played by Miranda Wynne. It’s her birthday, which she refers to as “name day.” She is all gushy when she meets Masha but is greeted with veiled hostility. Feeling uncomfortable, Nina says, “Maybe I should be going.”
Realizing how foolish she looks, Masha, after demonstrating the difference between stage and film acting, puts her jealousy aside and invites Nina to the costume party, informing her that she should come as Dopey. Oh yes. When asked the name of the unseen young woman sitting in the car, Masha answers, that is Hootie Pie, my assistant. Off to the party they go. Sonia, adorned in a stunning gold lame gown, topped with an extravagant headpiece, is the hit of the party upstaging Masha who everyone thought came as Norma Desmond, concluding Act 1.
Act II begins with Spike walking Nina home. Masha loses it when she thinks he said “Don’t wait up for me.” There are comic confessionals from both Sonia and Masha with both ending in what should be a sad crying jag, but it’s actually hilarious with Sonia declaring “I haven’t lived” while Masha cries out “My life is over.” Adding to the comedy, is Vanya quietly sipping tea while the two women are wailing. Durang’s genius to create comedy out of sadness manifests in Vanya’s exquisite, almost heartbreaking monologue wherein he mourns the loss of an easier 50’s lifestyle. He becomes more and more emotional as he remembers black & white television sets, along with hit programs such as Howdy Doody, Kukla, Fran & Ollie, The Perry Como Show, The Dinah Shore Show, Carol Burnett, Ed Sullivan, Your Show of Shows, and fun games such as Scrabble, and Monopoly.
Almost in tears he adds, “And telephones where you had to put your finger into little holes and dial your number.” Surprises abound throughout the play, dear readers, which you’ll have to experience for yourselves. Director Pearlman assembled a highly professional, Broadway-caliber cast which she skillfully directed resulting in this delightful theatrical production.
As a sidebar, seeing this play in a small house reminds me of just why I love theatre. It’s always an adventure.
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”
Pacific Resident Theatre
Venice, CA 90291
(Street parking or small lot in back)
Playwright: Christopher Durang
Director:Victoria Pearlman
Run: Thursday – Saturday: 8:00 p.m., Sunday: 3:00 p.m.
Closing: Sunday, June 11, 2023
Running Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
(including one intermission)
Tickets: $35 Thursdays, $45 Saturdays & Sunday
(Check the box office for Senior and Student discounts)
Reservations online: https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/
Phone: (310) 822-8392
