MM+Vanya+Sonia+Critique

Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike Critique Questions

The play is about three siblings in late middle age who reflect on their lives and childhoods, and throughout the course of the play realize that they love each other. The author told his story well; the characters were well developed and their stories were compelling. The subject matter was worthwhile, because it spanned a number of topics, from the love between siblings to fear of change, and the characters were people you wanted to root for, so their problems mattered to the audience.

The actors conveyed the author’s intent well, and they all really filled in the meaning of the play through their acting. Sonia, played by Katherine Butcher, made her self-pity very convincing, while still wholly endearing herself to the audience. When she talked on the phone with Joe, the audience felt her joy and triumph as she accepted his invitation. Vanya, played by Larry Cox, Jr., was also a lovely blend of self-deprecating and endearing, and his monologue in the second act had the audience hanging on every word, his tirade was both funny and moving. Masha, played by Anna Pieri, was funny, and despite being abrasive at first, was also a likeable character. The supporting characters—Spike, Cassandra, and Nina—were all very funny and high-energy, and their contributions to the show were significant through their contribution of energy and humor.

The physical production was realistic, including the set, costumes, and props. The set was a box set, designed to look like an old house, and the design and set dressing were both superb. The attention to detail in the set dressing, in things like the framed playbills on the walls, birdwatching book on the coffee table, and other small details, really brought the house to life and drew the audience into the world of the play. The costumes were very good, because each costume represented the character who was wearing it. Some of my favorites were Vanya and Sonia’s pajamas when the show opened, Sonia’s costume for the costume party, and Masha’s pajamas in the second act. The lighting included practical lighting features onstage, which really added to the show when everyone returned from the party and turned on the lights.

The audience was very receptive to the play. There was a lot of laughter from the audience throughout the show, and during the quiet, moving moments the audience was extremely quiet and focused. In between acts, I spoke to the people I saw the show with, and we discussed which parts we thought were the funniest, so there was not a lot of influence that impacted my enjoyment. I would encourage my friends to see this show, because I thought it was an enjoyable viewing experience. After seeing this show, I might seek out other plays written by this author, because I liked several elements of his writing style.