Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
By Christopher Durang
Middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha.
BROADWAYWORLD
It's a realistically apt setting for the grounded absurdity of director Mark Cirnigliaro's production. Cirnigliaro sets a languid pace, but each actor is so grounded and assured in their characters, the humor and pathos abounds.
HUDSON REPORTER
Mile Square Theatre’s latest play is very funny. It’s also touching and insightful, revealing, heart-warming, and fun. But mostly, it’s funny.
and, of course direction (Mark Cirnigliaro) are top notch, which is something we’ve come to expect from Mile Square Theatre. They’ve set their own bar fairly high.
Comedy is hard. An ensemble comedy is harder still. An ensemble comedy playing off the subtleties of life, family, regret, promise and potential should be downright impossible. Mile Square Theatre makes it looks easy.
NJARTS
Director Mark Cirnigliaro paces each bit of dialogue and stage business perfectly to wring maximum guffaws, chuckles and grins out of the material.