Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang (USA). Mockingbird Theatre Company at Belconnen Arts Centre, May 13-23 2026. 140 mins including 15 mins interval.
Reviewed by Frank McKone
May 15
Setting: Bucks County, Pennsylvania USA. The year is 2013.
Cast:
Vanya – Chris Baldock; Sonia – Tracy Noble; Masha – Helen McFarlane
Spike – Darcy Worthy; Nina – Lily Welling: Cassandra – India Kazakoff
Production Team:
Director – Steph Evans; Asst Director – Gabrielle Purcell
Stage Manager – Gabrielle Purcell & Steph Evans
Set Design and Realisation – Chris Baldock, with Steph Evans and Gabrielle Purcell
Lighting Design – Rhiley Winnett and Steph Evans
Sound Design – Gabrielle Purcell
Costumes & Props – Chris Baldock, Steph Evans and Cast
Intimacy Director – Steph Evans
Photography – Zac Bridgman
Mockingbird’s
presentation of this 21st Century highly American vision of how Anton
Chekov’s late 19th Century Russian characters can make us laugh – and
worry about the future – now as then, is like drinking a whole bottle of
sparkling wine – superficially bubbly to start with, and a satisfying
vintage by the end.
This success is because Chris Baldock has the
imagination, the taste, and takes every care as the best winemakers do,
working with a small, remarkably well-blended team to make sure every
little detail is exactly right – from the Pennsylvania accents, to the
extraordinary facial expressions by one who is speaking and everyone
else in response, to the choreography, and the instant changes of
attitudes and emotions.
This makes top-class comedy from Baldock
himself as Vanya, the family elder (since their parents have ‘passed’);
trying to live peacefully with his adopted sister Sonia, seeking more in
life than just housekeeping; in massive contrast with his true sister
Masha, actress in the extreme.
Not only does Masha turn the
household topsy-turvy by bringing in the amazingly beautiful sexy young
man Spike, who then brings in the equally beautiful sexy young woman
Nina; but it is Masha who owns the house and pays for her siblings’
living costs, since her acting roles provided the money – until now as
she is growing old, but doesn’t want to face playing grandmother in the
next movie.
Then, taking us way back referentially from Chekov to
ancient Greek theatre (is it Sophocles?) the weekly house-cleaner is
Cassandra, who predicts the future but is not treated well by the Gods.
The role is farcical, and just what is needed to make ‘normal’ life
impossible – and awfully funny.
The style of acting all this is
very much over-the-top, as you may imagine. You have to see the show to
see it done – and everyone of these actors are at the professional
standard the play requires.
Even to the point in the final scene
when they achieve the seriousness of the absurdity of our lives to open
our eyes. We may still be laughing while we applaud such great acting.
Only afterwards we may start worrying about our own futures in
post-2020s. It’s a great vintage at the end of the bottle; but we have
to think about the effects of drinking so much all at once.
Another imbibement from Mockingbird not to be missed.
©Frank McKone, Canberra