Theatre Raleigh's "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" Sparks Laughter and Thought

Courtney Balan, Angela Pierce, and Eric Woodall star in Theatre Raleigh's production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Walking into the De Ann S. Jones Theatre at the Theatre Raleigh Arts Center is always a surprise. Viewers never know exactly what they’ll find. In the case of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, written by Christopher Durang and directed by Tim Seib, the space has been completely transformed into a quaint country house, beautifully brought to life by Ben Fancy’s detailed scenic design.

Inside this house, viewers quickly meet two of the title characters. Siblings Vanya, portrayed by a dashing, dignified Eric Woodall, and Sonia, played by a charming Courtney Balan, come smashing onto the stage . . . literally. As they throw coffee cups around and dissolve into bickering banter, the stunted, stilted nature of their lives becomes evident.

When their movie-star sister, Masha (a hilarious Angela Pierce), comes bursting onto the scene, she breaks up the monotony of their lives. She comes bearing her much younger, often scantily clad “beloved,” the titled Spike (Reed Lancaster). He, in turn, attracts the attention of a pretty neighborhood girl, Nina (Aysia Slade), leading to a flurry of jealousy from Masha and lust from Vanya. Add in an oh-so-funny housekeeper, Cassandra (Lisa Cordileone), who is prone to making dire prophecies, and Masha’s threat of selling the family home, and calamity ensues.

These Chekhov-inspired characters attend an uproarious costume party, act out scenes, and plot against each other in a series of fast, frenzied moments that keep the audience laughing. The sitcom-style humor is punchy, the dialogue flows fast, and yet, the actors never lose their steam during this perfectly paced, well-staged romp.. Lancaster proves his genius for physical comedy, while Woodall adds intensity and thought through his pitch-perfect delivery of Vanya’s all-important second act monologue.
 
The script, which is both smart and silly, is bolstered not just by the strong performances, but by expert lighting and sound effects. Theatre Raleigh’s welcoming, joyful atmosphere, which included themed drinks and pre-show music, also adds to the experience. Viewers will feel as though they’ve been immersed into a new world, one with plenty of laughter and some thought-provoking themes. Everyone will find a character to identify with and something to contemplate. Like a welcome breeze or a walk through a cherry orchard, this production is sweet, refreshing, and wonderfully energizing.

The show runs through July 28, and tickets are available here.

-Susie Potter