The
Divine Miss M
by
Michael Dresdner
L to R: Sonia, Masha, Vanya (Childs, Leeper, Larson) photos by Dennis K Photography
Vanya
and Sonia and Masha and Spike, directed by Frank Kohel at Tacoma Little
Theatre, may well be one of the best comedies you have never heard of, in part
because it debuted only four years ago. Funny, fast-paced, and rich with enormous
personalities, it’s both a dream and challenge for the right cast of actors, and
this production definitely has the right cast of actors.
L to R: Sonia, Vanya (Childs, Larson)
Gay, tranquil
Vanya (Martin Larson), lives with his sister Sonia (Dayna Childs) in a gorgeous
Bucks County, PA house. After caring for their parents until death, they’ve hit
middle age with no jobs and not much of a life to speak of outside their comfortable
digs amid a cherry orchard. Named by parents who were fond of Chekov, they
bemoan their rather pointless life and comically argue about trifles while
Sonia frequently reminds us she alone is adopted. They’re attended by a flamboyant
cleaning woman named Cassandra (LaNita Hudson), who, like her namesake in Greek
mythology, uses her gift of second sight to make constant dire predictions that
no one believes.
L to R: Spike, Masha, Cassandra (Tse, Leeper, Hudson)
The
siblings are supported by their movie star sister Masha (Stephanie Leeper) who
owns the house and whose very successful career as an actress is starting to
wane. Having blown through five failed marriages, she shows up to visit accompanied
by her latest boy toy, Spike (Freddy Tse), a preening, lusty youth deeply enamored
with his own well-toned physique. He brings a neighbor’s visitor to the house,
a young aspiring actress named Nina (Leena Lambert) who inadvertently inspires
envy in Masha, whom she idolizes, and lust in Spike, whom she doesn’t.
Masha (Leeper)
Masha, grandiloquent
and controlling, decides they should all go to a costume party with her dressed
as Snow White, Spike as Prince Charming, and the others as dwarves. Sonia alone
balks and dresses in a sequined purple gown which inspires her to break out of
her shell and channel “Maggie Smith going to the Oscars.” After the party, a frustrated
Masha, who failed to be the center of attention, announces she’s selling the
house, making the jobless siblings homeless and adrift.
L to R: Vanya, Nina, Sonia (Larson, Lambert, Childs)
Cassandra,
who has more or less predicted this, decides she should change bad tidings
instead of merely warning of them, with, among other methods, a voodoo doll. Eventually,
calm is restored, a happy ending ensues, and all three siblings discover the
peace they can give one another.
While
the play is admittedly short on plot, it is very long on character development,
and all of the outstanding actors in this ensemble cast get their chance to
shine. Leeper’s Masha is a sweeping, stage commanding divine Miss M sort, a
grand hurricane of a character. It’s the best work yet I’ve seen by this fine
actress.
L to R: Masha, Spike (Leeper, Tse)
Larson’s charming, mild mannered Vanya gets his chance to break out in
act two, where he brilliantly erupts into a long tirade about the decay of
society as seen through a staccato litany of dozens of lost cultural
references. His wonderful performance hit home with references all too familiar
to people my age.
Vanya (Larson)
Childs, whose
Sonia is initially mousy and self-questioning, does her delightful character
change as Maggie Smith cum Norma Desmond, but returns only partially to her
other persona once the purple dress comes off. Hudson, who always commands the
stage whenever she steps on it, crafts a Cassandra that is exotic, riveting,
and just intimidating enough to be thrilling. Tse makes Spike everything the
older generation loves to hate about the younger; flip, insensitive, selfish,
and phone-tethered. Lambert, as Nina, contrasts them all with ineffable
sweetness and youthful purity.
L to R: Nina, Vanya (Lambert, Larson)
The
production crew is equally deserving of accolades. Michele Graves did a
wonderful job of costumes, both normal and party version. Lighting by Niclas
Olson and sound by Chris Serface were, as they should be, appropriately right
and unobtrusive. The stunning set built and painted by Blake and Jen York and
propped by Jeffery Weaver was dripping with stone work, wood beams, and just
the right furniture and knickknacks to satisfy those of us, like me, who’ve
actually lived in Bucks County.
Though
the pacing is brisk, this is none-the-less a very long play, about three hours with
intermission. It’s also one that is heavy on Easter eggs and theatrical and
literary references, including a dose of Chekov, but don’t worry, everything
you need to know is cleverly explained in exposition by the characters.
In the
final analysis, this is a terrific ensemble cast and crew, both separate and
together, bringing a delightful and richly crafted play to life. On top of that,
this is a rare chance to see a great work by a fine cast before it becomes a
well-known classic.
Vanya
and Sonia and Masha and Spike
April 8th
to 24th , 2016
Tacoma
Little Theatre
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