Review: Friendship, Family and Feuding at the Heart of CATCO's VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE

Featuring a lively cast of characters thrust into comedic situations, Christopher Durang's "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" is a lighthearted exploration of familial bonds and hometown roots.

Set in a wood-paneled sunroom looking out onto a pond often inhabited by a blue heron and a grouping of cherry trees that Sonia (Danielle Mann) is determined to classify as an orchard, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" loosely incorporates humorous nods to the work of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov into a show that strives to bring laughter and smiles to the audience.

Yet those with little to no exposure to Chekhovian classics needn't fear missing references or important plot points. Indeed, the interaction between the play's three siblings -- Vanya (Jonathan Putnam), Sonia and Masha (Lori Cannon) -- is easily enough fodder for hours of endless quarreling on its own.

Within mere minutes into the opening scene, Vanya and Sonia's mostly quiet existence -- give or take a few heated arguments and two cups of coffee smashed against the wall -- in their Bucks County, Pennsylvania, childhood home is interrupted by the crunching of gravel on the driveway, announcing the arrival of the siblings' eccentric movie star sister, Masha.

The owner of the house and a successful actress, Masha prances into the room with her newest lover, budding young actor Spike (William Darby), bringing with her endless complaints, head-spinning drama and a Snow White costume for a party held at a neighbor's house just down the street.

The costume party soon becomes a central point of discussion for the assembled group, with Masha dictating that her entourage attend the party dressed as characters from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Meanwhile, Spike meets a new friend, the neighbors' visiting niece, Nina (Kristen Krak), while wading in the pond, and brings her back to meet the others. Despite Masha's jealousy-fueled objections, Nina, an aspiring actress, is invited to the party and hurriedly accepts.

Further conflict is introduced to the already-fragile situation when Masha offhandedly mentions that she intends to put the house up for sale, which would leave Vanya and Sonia, both of whom who had never before held a job or a place of their own, with nowhere to go.

Adding to the absurd collection of competing personalities is Vanya and Sonia's cleaning woman, Cassandra (Shanessa Sweeney), who is gifted with prophecies but cursed by others' refusal to believe them. Upon learning of Masha's plan to sell the house, Cassandra takes matters into her own hands, much to the approval of the audience.

At two hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission, the play definitely requires one's investment in the characters who occupy the stage. Yet continuous quips and witty one-liners keep the verbal sparring match intense and packed with energy until the play's heartwarming ending.

CATCO's production of "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" is set to be performed in the Vern Riffe Center's Studio One Theatre from April 6 - 24.

Ticket pricing, showtimes and more information can be found on CATCO's website.

Tickets can be purchased at the CATCO box office, located at 39 E. State St. next to the Ohio Theatre, or by calling (614) 469-0939. They are also available via Ticketmaster.

The Vern Riffe Center is located at 77 S. High St.

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