What’s all the fuss? There must be
truly something special about this star filled show Vanya and Sonia and Masha
and Spike. Moving to Broadway on its second transfer, the audiences are
wondering what is going on that makes it so great. Is it the stars? Sigourney Weaver,
David Hyde Pierce and Kelsey Neilson star as brother and sisters, what could be
better? Or is it the hilarious book by Christopher Durang?
Vanya and Sonia have never left the
confines of their childhood home in Bucks County, PA, while their sister Masha
has been gallivanting around the world as a successful actress. A surprise
visit from Masha and her 20-something boy toy, Spike, throws the normally quiet
household into utter chaos as its residents and visitors get swept up in an
intoxicating mixture of lust, rivalry, regret, and the sudden possibility of
escape.
Sigourney Weaver (Hurlyburly) portrays Masha, the famous
and big headed sister of Vanya and Sonia. After Masha leaves home to peruse her
acting career she finally returns home to stir up some trouble. Weaver stays
very true to her character but couldn’t help be feel extremely annoyed every
time she enters on stage. It may have been her characters personality but there
is a difference between acting like your character and over acting. David Hyde
Peirce (La Bete) plays the gay and
calm brother of the pack, Vanya. Peirce brings his very dry comedy to the show,
which leaves the audience in stitches. A highlight of his performance is his
fifteen minute rant about how no one in the world is connected and how nothing
is how it used to be; quite possibly the best rant of 2013. Sonia, the over
dramatic, lonely and down on herself sister is done by Kelsey Neilson (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson). Neilson
brought a light to the stage the had the audience rooting for her when she felt
really down on herself. When she put on the sparkling blue dress and started
acting like Maggie Smith, she truly glowed. Billy Magnussen (The Ritz) played Spike, The 20- something
boy toy of Masha. Magnussen is hilarious and also very draining to watch, how
someone has that much energy is amazing: Oh and he wasn’t bad to look at
either. The best part of the show was quite possibly Shalita Grant (debut) who
played Cassandra, the voodoo diva housekeeper. Her repetition and loud energy
had the audience rolling on the floor. Every time she walked out on stage, the
audience was anxious to see what she was going to do. Genevieve Angelson
(debut) played Nina, the next door neighbor who is an aspiring actress.
Although Angelson is adorable, her performance was very dull and boring.
Directing the twice transferred
comedy is Nicholas Martin (Present
Laughter). Clearly if a show is transferred from regional to Off Broadway
to Broadway then someone is doing his job right. Martin knew how to work with
each different type of comedy in each different character and did wonderful job
of mixing them all together. David Kornis (Motown:
The Musical) did the Set Design, was very simple but worked
very well and didn’t distract from this very full show. Justin Townsend (The Other Place) was responsible for the
light design. The lights, much like the set, were very simple and kept the well-known
saying, “Bright is Funny”. Emily Rebholz (Bloody
Bloody Andrew Jackson) did a wonderful job with costume design. There is
one tech element the gets to truly shine in this show is the costumes because
of how much they are referenced and Rebholz does not disappoint.
Vanya and Sonia and
Masha and Spike plays at the John Golden Theatre until June30, 2013. This is
one of the funniest shows on Broadway right now; make sure not to miss out of
the utter chaos. So head over to the Golden Theatre and find out what happens
when three siblings are reunited after years of not seeing each other.
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