Yearly Archives: 2018

CenterStage Players announces auditions for VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE

Tuesday, November 13th
6:30-9:00 PM; please plan to arrive no later than 7:00 PM

6 Performances: March 15-24 (Friday-Sunday)

Directed by Richard Zenk
Produced by Fred Hunt

Contact the director for the parts of the script to be used for auditions at richardjoseph@gmail.com.

Synopsis:
Chekhov is alive and well in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where adult siblings Vanya and Sonia reside in their old family home, mourning their lost dreams and missed opportunities. When their often-wrong, fortune-telling maid warns of impending dangers, and their movie star sister, Masha, arrives unexpectedly with young, sexy, boy toy, Spike, the family is launched into a rollicking weekend of one-upmanship, exposed nerves, and a lot of broken mugs. With wit and absurdity, Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike blends Chekhov’s famous ennui with the modern-day toils and troubles of celebrity, social networking, and age into a laugh-out-loud comedy that will tickle your funny bone and stimulate your mind.

Characters:

• Vanya (male, 50s-60s; the elder brother). Wry, retiring, frustrated, resigned fellow.
  Vanya et al is an ensemble piece, but the closest to a lead role is Vanya, who acts as the peacemaker in the family and has the most stage time. He also has a pages-long eruption of a monologue at the conclusion of the play. He is gay and lives with his adopted sister (‘together alone’) in the house of their childhood, having cared for their parents until they passed, supported financially by their sister. He never had to work and was complicit in letting his life slip by without making much of it at all. An observer, holds a lot back, until he absolutely cannot anymore. Needs to have good comedic timing.
• Sonia (female, 50s; the adopted sister). Melancholic, capricious, definitely regretful, possibly desperate.
  A mirror image of Vanya except less resigned and more prone to manic outbursts and accusations for her state of being. She also maybe has/had a clearer image of what she wanted from life. Sonia and Masha have a raw, contentious hostility toward one another that comes out as the play progresses. May be the one worth the most sympathy. Must be able to do a “Maggie Smith” impersonation.
• Masha (female, 50s; the famous sister). Expansive, glamorous, haughty, frenetic.
  A successful and well-traveled actress, often married, Masha returns home to her siblings having found herself on the edge of “once beautiful.” Wishes she had been a “classical actress.”  Her self-deceptions are worn more on her sleeve than either of her siblings – see the flirtatious, empty-headed young companion she brings home with her. She returns to the homestead with intentions to sell it out from under her siblings, but really, she might not have had anywhere else to go.
• Spike (male, 20s or early 30s; Masha’s ‘companion’). Chiseled, flippant, devil-may-care boy toy.
  A preening millennial, Spike is a young actor who pays just enough attention to Masha to keep her satisfied. He does not seem to have any urgency for anything, despite the fact that he has little to show for his career thus far. But he’s got his looks, a captive audience, and believes the rest will be laid out all on a plate for him when the time comes. As fair warning, Spike does disrobe down to his underwear in the play, and maintains that status for several pages on stage.
• Nina (female, 20s-30s; aspiring actress). Earnest, bouncy, a guileless admirer..
  An accidental arrival on the scene, Nina is the neighbor’s niece who has dreams of becoming an actress and has the (mis)fortune to stumble into her idol Masha. Starstruck, energetic, hopeful for what the future holds for her and everyone else. Her appearance though provokes lust in Spike and, unsurprisingly, envy in Masha.
• Cassandra (female, flexible age; soothsayer housekeeper). Obtrusive, kooky, dramatic. A true wildcard, gem of a comedic role, Cassandra is aptly and unambiguously named: she is a psychic prognosticator that no one believes but speaks the truth (mostly). Sometimes surprised by her own ability to predict the future. Must have a strong command of language, as she has Greek Tragedy-style monologues. She is also the housekeeper and somewhat of a caregiver to Sonia and Vanya.. Her sudden, wild pronouncements for the future offer a lot to play around with for the adventuresome actress.