VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE
Having missed both the Broadway and Mark Taper Forum productions of this Tony-winning play, I had planned to see it when it arrived at Santa Monica’s Edgemar Center for the Arts this past Fall. And then I felt a bit left-out when I wound-up missing that one, as well.
Sonia, Masha, and Vanya. Photo by Karen Salkin.
So, I was thrilled when Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike returned to the Edgemar this past week-end for another limited run.
I had no idea what the plot was beforehand, but the crazy name, and Tony award, were enough to pique my interest. So often, though, award-winning shows fall flat for me. But this one did not. It’s a comedy, and it really entertained us, most often when Christine Dunford, as a middle-aged drama queen actress, was on stage. I could see the show again, just for her performance.
Spike.
The action takes place over a week-end in the lives of three grown-up siblings, who are named after Chekov characters. Their home is in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a place that’s near and dear to my heart; I just reviewed that area, as a matter of fact! (You can read it here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/travel-making-new-memories-in-new-hope-pennsylvania.) They even make mention of one of the last places I ever camped in—Upper Black Eddy! So,the atmosphere of the play really hit home for me.
I didn’t get into the whole Chekovian aspect of it, though; I just enjoyed the play as it lay. But, I’m sure that if you’re more familiar with Chekov than I am, this play will also have deeper meanings for you as it goes along.
As usual, I’m not going to spoil the fun for you by telling you the whole story; this one, especially, is so much better if you just sit back and go with the flow. The members of the audience I saw it with on opening night looked very diverse, but we were all guffawing the same.
An added bonus is getting to repeatedly view the almost-naked body of Nate Golon, who plays Spike. You go, boy!
Photo by Karen Salkin.
And I must tell you how much I absolutely loved the set, designed by Alessandra Manias. It’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long while! A set of that caliber was very unexpected in a 99-seat theatre.
Adding a bit of poignancy to the entire proceedings is the fact that the play’s (I’m assuming beloved) director, Barbara Tarbuck, passed away at the very end of the year. So, we’re witnessing a big part of her legacy, right there in the flesh.
And lastly, I must add a few words about this Edgemar Center theatre itself. It is very comfortable in there, which is a pleasure. And all seats are good. And the people who check you in are sweet and helpful.
But the douchebag restaurant next door, Tar and Roses, feels that it’s necessary to blast music at night, no matter how much that affects the goings-on in the theatre. So that muffled pounding noise goes on during the entire second act! Those creeps couldn’t wait an hour to do that?! Like they’re going to lose any business because of it. (And their food sucks, too.) So, if you are as sensitive to bass as I am, but do not want to miss your opportunity to see this excellent play, (as well you should not,) you may want to go to the earlier Sunday performance of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, instead of attending on a week-end night. It’s still an evening out, and you can avoid the headache caused by the selfishness of others.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike running through March 5, 2017
Edgemar Center for the Arts 2437 Main Street Santa Monica 310-392-7327
www.edgemarcenter.org/vanya-and-sonia-and-masha-and-spike
