Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at NC Stage Co.
NC Stage Co.’s production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is one heck of a long sit — but a worthwhile one.
The rare 2.5-hour offering from the downtown Asheville theater company, Christopher Durang’s Tony-winning, Chekhov-riffing 2013 play largely earns its length through witty dialogue and well-drawn characters, and finds game conduits in a talented ensemble cast and gifted technical crew under the thoughtful direction of Charlie Flynn-McIver.
Once again, Julie K. Ross’ immaculate set design is essentially a character itself, and this time takes the form of the pond-facing dining room in the Bucks County, Penn., family home of Vanya (Scott Treadway) and his adopted sister Sonia (Callan White). After an especially volatile coffee session in which the two 50somethings confess their frustrations with each other — and themselves, sour at a life barely lived — the mood is lightened considerably by Jane Bushway’s turn as housekeeper Cassandra.
Taking her name a bit too seriously, as Vanya humorously notes, Cassandra dramatically doles out various warnings for the siblings to heed — which they might if the advice (e.g. “Beware Hootie Pie!!!”) made any sense. Bushway’s big, hilarious performance is the standout of the show, but she receives ample support from her depressed co-stars once their movie star sister Masha (Laurie Carter Rose) arrives with her new himbo, Spike (Brad Mills).
The fraught dynamic that the impromptu family reunion inspires results in plenty of laughs, particularly via Spike’s youthful naiveté (and penchant for stripping), Masha’s snobby class comments, and Sonia’s sarcastic replies. And though area audiences are unaccustomed to seeing Treadway play a reserved individual, his gay Vanya fulfills the important role of straight man — no pun intended — and provides needed levity via eye-rolls and shocked expressions as those around him lose their minds.
While each sibling seems at their respective journey’s breaking point, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike proves oddly bereft of significant conflict — likely an intentional, convention-shattering choice by Durang, but one that contributes to the work’s overlong feel. Threats are made by family breadwinner Masha of selling the house and all three adult children seem insecure about their romantic prospects, namely when the neighbor’s attractive young niece Nina (Jenna Gilmer) befriends Spike. But other than adults in arrested development having to face real-world responsibilities, is there really that much at stake here?
A tightened script with revised versions of a critical phone call (that far outstays its welcome) and the sub-sub-subplot of sexual tension between Vanya and Spike (that goes nowhere) might have amplified the drama. And the material is undoubtedly more rewarding for those familiar with Chekhov’s work. But even with Durang’s largely esoteric references and the resulting bloated runtime, the play is so entertaining and consistently funny that it sustains audience attention.
Each character delivers a distinct brand of comedy, and White channeling Maggie Smith on her way to a neighbor’s costume party (and in its aftermath) is a pure delight. Meanwhile, Treadway ultimately gets a chance to showcase his energetic side in a manner reminiscent of a steroidal version of his recent one-man show, Every Brilliant Thing, and wholly merits the inter-show applause.
Rounding out these laugh-rich moments are revelations regarding the whole truth about their dearly departed parents’ home care needs that shade in characters who initially appear one-note and petty. By the end of Act II, we feel like we know these people — and that notion might not have been as pronounced without spending an uncomfortably long amount of time with them.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike runs through Sunday, April 16, at NC Stage Co. For details and tickets, visit ncstage.org.
(Photos courtesy of NC Stage Co.)
