BWW Reviews: VANYA & SONIA & MASHA & SPIKE and RUMPELSTILTSKIN Entertain All Ages

On a delightful, autumn Saturday in Birmingham I found a way to entertain the child in me as well as the grown woman I claim to be. At noon I went to Birmingham Children's Theatre, now in its 67th season, to see RUMPELSTILTSKIN in their Wee Folks Series. It is delightful, musical, engaging and funny. The large crowd of about 75 were treated to not only a talented group of actors, but a perfectly cast show with a handsome king, beautiful maiden, stern treasurer of the kingdom and quirky title character. Although I was dismayed when the 3 year old girl next to me pointed out that almost all of the patrons were girls, (take your boys to the theatre people!!) overall I thoroughly enjoyed my playful morning.

Later that evening I went to see VANYA & SONIA & MASHA & SPIKE at Birmingham Festival Theatre. It is a well staged play that I found funny and endearing. The set is detailed and well constructed. It all laid out beautifully and although I wondered about some of the casting at first, I grew to love most every character. Brad Riegel as Vanya is the right amount of sleepy and complacent to be believable, yet when sent on a rant left us all agreeing with the emotions he shares. Bethe Ensey as Sonia gives us the shy, older woman who has given up her life to care for her aging, adoptive parents, but with the exact right amount of spark underneath her beaten down persona. From the start I felt the bond between Vanya and Sonia, as they lovingly argue as only brothers and sisters can.

Brooke Wood as Masha is also perfectly cast. She is able to come across as fadingly beautiful, self centered and attention hungry, yet somehow still vulnerable and loveable. In her scenes with Nina, a wide eyed fan of Masha's played by Katherine Hintz, she shows the perfect amount of disdain mixed with pleasure. Ms. Hintz looks back at her with sincere admiration and naïveté. I found their scenes together to be charming and very real.

Although the whole show is funny, Debbie Smith as Cassandra stole the moments she is speaking on stage. Her dire predictions and hilarious voodoo make for the most comical moments of the night. However, I also have to give her kudos for being sensitive to the moments that she is on stage and yet not the main focus, being a presence but not taking anything away from her fellow performers, the sign of a generous actor.

Overall, the direction is well done and helps facilitate the already strong Christopher Durang script. Everything flows perfectly, yet seems natural. During the show I began to wonder where I had seen these actors before or if I knew them from somewhere. After glancing at the program during intermission I realized I had neither seen them before nor did I know them. But they had become familiar to me through their characters and the story they were telling me. I have to say I believe that this is the highest compliment I can pay- to feel as if the characters and I are old friends by the end of our two hours together.

I am proud to say I live in a city where top notch, live theatre can be enjoyed by anyone of any age on pretty much any given day. We should be happy we can take our children to see and learn to love a great show at Birmingham Children's Theatre in the daytime, then go out with our adult friends and see superb theatre in the evening, all done locally, with local talent. Don't miss out on the last weekend of VANYA & SONYA & MASHA & SPIKE at Birmingham Festival Theatre on October 2,3,4 at 8pm. Check www.BCT123.org for future performances at Birmingham Children's Theatre.

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