Off Broadway comes to Theatre 41 in an American comedy and the Director and cast pull it off.

By Angie Millard

Photos by John Saunders

It’s rare that we are treated to this sort of play in York and it was a novel experience to hear the sound of American accents and that special wise-cracking dialogue on the stage of Theatre@41. It takes a while to tune in to the rhythm of the piece; the gags often use non-sequiturs and reflect American comic themes but characters, although superficially different, seem strangely familiar.

Set in rural Pennsylvania, brother Vanya and adopted sister Sonia begin their day with coffee as they gaze at the lake. Low level discontent manifests itself by a squabble which results in the cups being thrown over their shoulders and smashed; very Russian, very unexpected. These occasional references to Chekov and his plays appear throughout. Famous and aspiring actresses descend into the tedium of country life only to discover the truth about themselves; desirable young men are there to shatter their illusions, and beneath the surface is the despair which the playwright Christopher Durang twists into superb comedy.

The play rests on the sharpness and talent of the cast which Jim Paterson puts to brilliant effect. The scenario of the play moves from comic set pieces to character denouement and then on to pure farce. Victoria Delaney has the most complex changes which she manages with ease. The audience sees her change from a neurotic spinster to a desirable woman and her entrance in glamorous fancy dress as the wicked witch from Snow White (with the added personna of Maggie Smith) shows the author’s ingenuity at its best. This extra layer of humour gives Delaney the chance, in her phone call with a suitor, to explore the full range of her vocal and dramatic ability and she nails it absolutely. Mick Liversidge has similar opportunities in the text with throw away one-liners and, in his diatribe about the past; ‘I used to lick stamps…’ he is able to move from humour to despair, a feat which I found impressive though I think a little judicious editing would have sharpened it.

Susannah Baines plays the deluded Masha with just the right amount of energy and conviction but I felt the playwright denied her some subtlety. She was The Diva but her failed plan to control the fancy dress costumes as Snow White and coercion of everyone else to be dwarfs offered the chance for much fun. Baines knows how to turn comedy to pathos and she and Delaney achieved this in a brilliant episode of weeping together, their childlike faces mirroring the tantrums of infancy. In order to be Masha, Baines relies on Andrew Robert’s performance as Spike. His vanity and nonchalant belief that he can have it all is comic and uncomfortable. Roberts plays these qualities throughout, but most effectively in an enactment of his favourite scene in a film. Here he plays against a silent second voice and offers a bravura performance which is very funny.

Livy Potter demonstrates a subtle humour in her role as the wide-eyed ingenue. I found her performance utterly convincing and it was the glue which binds good comedy. If everyone is eccentric and extreme how do we centre our understanding of character? The playwright threw an extra ingredient into the mix with Cassandra, the cleaner, played by Sanna Jeppsson. This actress is a joy to watch. She gives a detailed performance, her movement is fluid and carefully observed but again I felt her crazy characterisation might just be a bit too much. However, I could have watched her for hours, particularly in the laugh out loud voodoo doll sequence which I wouldn’t have toned down at all.

A cast of very talented actors have been brought together by Jim Paterson and have achieved a memorable excursion into American Theatre. 

Last night was full so get your tickets today!

Vanya and Sonia, and Masha and Spike was performed at Theatre@41 Monkgate on Thursday 3 November 2022. It runs to Saturday 5 November 2022.