Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Review

Shawna O'Neill, Special to TC Media
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Review
From left-to-right Ashley Elms

The Seaway Valley Theatre Company is currently performing the 2013 Tony Award winning play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. The unpredictable plotline and characters contributed to an unconventional and memorable performance.

“I like to take risks,” said Mike DeWolfe, the Director of the play. “I don’t like to do the average story that’s been done before. I like to challenge the actors and audiences.”

The play opens with two siblings engaged in an argument. But the audience only learns the context of the scene, and that Vanya (Neil Carriere) and Sonia (Shelley Cameron) are siblings, after Sonia dramatically throws and smashes a cup of coffee on the floor. The storyline often progressed with random moments like this, including a costume party and a magical maid, which was entertainingly unpredictable. However there were moments that seemed out of place, like a lengthy rant about technology and today’s generation, and an eccentric play within the play.

The story is intriguingly complex. A brother and sister are living in their late parent’s home, jobless and unambitious, while their estranged movie star sister Masha (Lacie Petrynka) pays for the house. One day she returns home with her 20-something boyfriend Spike (Jordan Blodgett) and informs her siblings of her plans for the property. The events that follow show the characters true beliefs, motivations, jealousies and regrets. The siblings have a maid named Cassandra (Chantal Raymond) who casts spells and heeds warnings like a fortune teller, and a  neighbour, Nina (Ashley Elms), who befriends the family and becomes intertwined in their drama.

Each actor and actress believably embodied their characters. Blodgett stripped to his underwear for his role and Raymond attacked a voodoo doll for hers. Each character came to life through exceptional acting which was arguably the most captivating part of the play. Carriere maintained Vanya’s sarcasm and dry humour like it was second nature, and Cameron’s execution of Sonia’s self-loathing was rawly realistic. But Petrynka’s portrayal of Masha’s jealous outbursts and oblivious insecurity was most memorable. Masha, a misunderstood antagonist, seemed obnoxious and loud on the surface, but was simply troubled and looking for love like many of the other characters. Petrynka’s acting was similar to Jane Krakowski’s in 30 Rock or  Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Overall, the play was entertaining, inspiring and unexpected, thus highly recommended. The script had its downfalls, with characters occasionally reinforcing tired stereotypes and cracking controversial jokes. But the acting was brilliantly believable and humorous, the set was charming and the evening was enjoyable.

The last show will be on Saturday, June 2, and a link to purchase tickets can be found at www.svtc.ca/tickets.

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