Review: VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE at Theatre Southwest

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE by Christopher Durang won a Tony in 2013 for Best Play, and was recently performed by the Alley Theatre here in Houston. It's a very funny piece that revolves around three middle aged siblings who marinate in ennui and regret. Theatre Southwest is brave to mount the show so soon after memorable productions, but luckily they have assembled a cast with insanely good comedic timing and the brazenly daft direction of Jay Menchaca. It's a fun night at the theatre, and the small intimate space affords a closer look at a Pennsylvania family trapped in a modern Chekhov play.

The plot finds poor siblings Vanya (Bob Maddox) and Sonia (Suzanne King) adrift without purpose at the family home after the death of their parents. They listlessly watch life pass by, admire the birds out by the lake, and debate on whether or not they have a cherry orchard. They bicker on odd topics and drink a lot of coffee. But then in comes sister Masha (Nora Hahn) with a boy toy in tow (Ryan Burkhart), and she announces they are to attend an important costume party at the neighbors. It is revealed she is an actress who has been paying the bills of the family estate, but with her career in its twilight she has decided to sell the home. This forces Vanya and Sonia to confront their own demons, and the results are a series of manic scenes taken straight from literary classics like THE SEAGULL, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, UNCLE VANYA, and THE THREE SISTERS. They are all reinvented by Durang to become sharp sardonic jabs at what life's purpose ultimately is, and what family means to individuals.

Theatre Southwest's decidedly smaller scale has forced the set by Ananka Kohnitz to be more rundown and homey than what has been seen before with this play. It adds a melancholy note to see the sad wicker and dowdy clothes up close. It's a wise choice to not create the image of wealth usually produced, but rather more a rundown country home that is shabby rather than chic. This all sets the tone for the production nicely, and establishes a reference for the cast to play out their parts. This is a different take on the play, one that is more nuanced and softer than usual.

Bob Maddox underplays Vanya masterfully, even bringing down a climactic breakdown of a monologue to his uniquely quiet level. It's a desperation that isn't loud, but is always palpable. He bubbles when he broods. In contrast Suzanne King makes Sonia decidedly country and less sophisticated than her other relatives. This works wonders when she has to invent a new persona for the costume party, and creates a greater divide than who she becomes in later acts. Nora Hahn brings a desperate sexiness to her aging actress, and she marks her own stamp on a role devised for Sigourney Weaver originally. She breaks onto the scene with a great haughty energy that sustains itself throughout. The three siblings play off each other wonderfully, and as a unit truly capture something unique, sad, and hilarious all at once.

The supporting cast is equally well appointed as the three inspired leads. Tausheli McClure plays Cassandra, a domestic who has visions as strong as her mythical namesake. She's funny as heck, and a total slave to her psychic pronouncements. Helen Rios makes for a wide eyed Nina, the perfect embodiment of her namesake from THE SEAGULL. She shares an intensely nice chemistry with Mr. Maddox, and it creates some of the most touching scenes in the show. And then there is Ryan Burkhart who plays the clothing challenged Spike. He's the nearly naked fish out of water here, and he's a hoot prancing and preening in nothing more than skimpy Andrew Christian briefs. Luckily he is so good at the comedy that it just makes the entire presentation that much more impressive. The trio makes the most out of their moments, and elevates the comedy and winsome moments nicely.

You don't have to know anything about Chekhov or his plays to appreciate the goofy family comedy that is VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, but it certainly helps you to see the tropes that Durang is using for his skewering of the classical conventions. Mainly though, Theatre Southwest has created a great comedy that moves quickly. Act Two runs a bit long by nature of the script, but this cast keeps the energy up admirably. What they do most successfully is convince you they are one dysfunctional family that is ready to implode under the pressure of facing their late years and still meandering without purpose. It's a piece about self-realization and rebirth, and it simply makes you grin from start to finish. Jay Menchaca and his troop have brought a big play to a small space and made it feel fresh and funny as all get out. It proves a big comedy can still have a huge heart in a small space.

The show runs at Theatre Southwest Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm until October 3rd. Tickets can be reserved online at www.theatresouthwest.com or by calling (713) 661-9505.

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