The play’s just the thing

Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts and Culture Reporter
May 26, 2015

The Fernandina Little Theatre is doing Christopher Durang’s Tony Award winning play, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” As you might expect from the title, this play is not a tragedy. Indeed it is very funny and very well acted. Combine two recluses, an aging movie star and hunky boyfriend, and a maid who thunders out prophecies and you have a great recipe for laughter. The play offers commentary on pretensions, nostalgia, and managing the journey of life.

The cast carries out their roles with obvious enjoyment. Cassandra the maid combines lines from Greek tragedy and pop culture in her prophecies. Vanya has a long monologue on nostalgia. Nina plays a molecule (don’t ask). Masha is the movie star who is trying to recapture past glories. Sonia is trying to have present glories. Spike uses every opportunity to flex muscles and remove shirts. It’s fun to see a cast having a good time with their play, while still being very attentive to lines and timing.

An evening with Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike – and the molecule is an evening well spent.

Editor’s Note:  VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE –  May 26, 28, 29 & 30 @ 7:30 pm. Tix available for purchase at The UPS Store [next door to the F.B. Publix – opens Tue at 8:30am.  Ticket sales are brisk.

Evelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. She is a chair of Arts & Culture Nassau, a city commission charged with support of the arts in Nassau County. She serves on FSCJ’s Curriculum Committee for the Center for Lifelong Learning. She is also the chair of the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.