Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Lionheart Theatre
through November 21, 2021
It is such a delight when a small local theatre brings a really professional comedic production to the stage, especially in the lousy days we all know from watching the news.
This work brings to mind the works of Chekhov. Especially the three sisters and the cherry orchard. When this show opened on Broadway it won the Tony for Best Play in 2013, and it’s a non-stop riot. Set in a small town, you meet a brother and sister who live alone in the family home. Grumpy old geezer, Vanya, is played by Michael Miller. He’s a little difficult at times. Just ask his sister, Sonia (Peggy Marx), but not while she’s having her coffee in the morning.
They’re half-siblings who seem to live in different worlds most of the time. The maid is Cassandra (Kathleen Seconder) who is also a psychic and purveyor of doom when it suits her to be so. And she’s very effective in what she does; albeit culinary arts are not her best talent.
Their sister, Masha (Phyllis Giller) comes for a brief visit. Masha is an actress who has followed her passion, made some money, and helped out financially, if not psychologically or physically. Now that the parents have passed on, she wants to reassess her relationship and she knows who is most important to her. She’s thinking about selling off the family home and moving on in life.
She shows up for the weekend with her toy boy, Spike (Jason Pulley) who provides the eye candy for many in the audience. Spike may not necessarily share Masha’s attachment; and he’s also a few years younger than her.
The other bit of discourse is the neighbor girl, Nina (Emily Zart) who wants to follow her dreams to act. But, Masha may not be the best advisor in that regard. All hell breaks loose when five of them get invited to a party that night and Masha wants to control the type of costume that each may use. After all, she has to be center stage.
Myrna Feldman, directed this production, which moves easily on a set by Ray Reboulet, and the laughter can bring down the house. This may be a small local house but the production quality is great and it is a wonderful value to a community to have them present. Speaking of “present” you may not know that they seem to always provide some goodies for the guests at intermission. It’s a can’t lose engagement. Locate off the square in Norcross. Good seats, free parking, plenty of food joints, and more info and tickets at LionheartTheatre.org