"Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" provides lots of laughs at Stagecrafters in Royal Oak. The story follows dysfunctional siblings"and a boy toy" squaring off during a weekend visit to the family home.
The comedy runs through April 24th at the Baldwin Theatre in Downtown Royal Oak. Tickets are available at http://www.stagecrafters.org
Winner of the 2013 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and New York Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike is playwright Christopher Durang’s biting and slightly off-kilter comedy about three sparring middle-aged siblings on a weekend visit at the family home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Stagecrafters say, "Three children of university professors were named for characters from the works of Russian playwright Anton Checkov, and can appear just as aimless, brooding and miserable as their namesakes - but much funnier."
Here's how Stagecrafters describes the show:
"Siblings Vanya (Nick Szczerba of Brownstown) and Sonia (Julie Landry of Novi) live unassuming and uneventful lives in the house where they grew up. Enter their sister Masha (Julie Fuller of Ferndale), a fading movie star and forever drama queen, with her new boy toy, Spike (Max Hughes of Detroit) in tow. Masha has financially supported her brother and sister for years and says she is back to attend a neighbor’s costume party. Vanya and Sonia resent their sister’s unwelcome intrusion and uninvited guest Spike, who is decades younger and has a penchant for parading around in his underwear. As the siblings trade barbs over past and present misunderstandings, the familial bonds are strained to the breaking point as they poke and prod each other as only siblings can do. Meanwhile, aspiring young actress Nina (Caroline Rourke) shows up in the mix and cleaning lady/soothsayer Cassandra (Debbie Landis-Sigler) tries practicing voodoo on Masha after it is revealed that Masha intends to sell the family home. The day after they all attend the party dressed as characters from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” events take an unexpected turn for the dysfunctional siblings."
With a cast of only six characters, the focus of the show becomes the characters and their relationships. Director Rodel Salazar of Madison Heights says when he saw the play on Broadway, he “connected with the characters, especially Vanya and Sonia. I also thought it was very funny and yet very poignant... having grown up with three other siblings, I knew firsthand the arguments, laughter, and shared moments that siblings experience.” He adds, “It’s been a joy working with my cast and developing their characters. They are so talented, committed and an absolute delight.... the first time we ran the show with the entire cast, we all couldn’t stop laughing.”
Show tickets are $20 on Thursdays, $22 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets may be purchased online at www.stagecrafters.org (online handling fees apply) or by phone at 248-541-6430 using Visa or MasterCard. All seats are reserved and there are no refunds or exchanges on individual tickets. If shows have not sold out, tickets can be purchased at the box office one hour prior to the performance. Student, military and senior discounts are available for specific performances. The Baldwin Theatre is located at 415 S. Lafayette in downtown Royal Oak. The show is sponsored by Five15 Media, Mojo, More of Royal Oak.
Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike is rated PG-13 for adult language and content.
Remaining Show dates and times are as follows:
Thursday, April 14 at 8 pm
Friday, April 15 at 8 pm
Saturday, April 16 at 8 pm
Sunday, April 17 at 2 pm
Thursday, April 21 at 8 pm
Friday, April 22 at 8 pm
Saturday, April 23 at 8 pm
Sunday, April 24 at 2 pm
Cast and Crew List by Community:
Nina Caroline Rourke Bloomfield Hills
Vanya Nick Szczerba Brownstown
Cassandra Debbie Landis-Sigler Clawson
Masha Julie Fuller Ferndale
Director Rodel Salazar Madison Heights
Sonia Julie Landry Novi
Producer Amy Wilson Oak Park
Producer Shari Morgan Orchard Lake
Spike Max Hughes Royal Oak
