Sierra Rep brings kooky sibling drama to the stage

Sibling rivalry. Snow White costumes. And more Chekhov jokes than you can shake a seagull at.

The play “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” may be steeped in the works of 19th-century Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, but it serves up decidedly modern sensibilities – and sense of humor – of the 21st century. The Tony-winning comedy by American playwright Christopher Durang makes its Sierra Repertory Theatre debut Friday, May 20.

The show is a bit of a departure for the foothills theater company, which tends to pack its season with family-friendly musicals and time-tested favorites. The contemporary piece opened on Broadway just three years ago and is suggested for mature audiences only because of its language and themes. But longtime Sierra Rep actor-turned-director Becky Saunders said area audiences should appreciate a fresh production.

“Often people think all theatergoers are always looking for something they have known before and seen before. So I hope they give this a chance because I think they’ll really enjoy it,” Saunders said. “I think that’s theater’s responsibility. You’ve got to give a variety, otherwise you’re not doing a job of enlightening and education and giving people the full spectrum.”

In “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” three older siblings, all named after Chekhov characters, reunite in the family’s Pennsylvania estate. Two of the siblings, Vanya (played by Sierra Rep regular Ty Smith) and Sonia (played by Sierra Rep newcomer Sheilagh Weymouth), live together in the home. But their lives are upended when their movie-star sister Masha (returning performer Lori Russo) with her boy toy Spike (Los Angeles-based actor James Morosini) return to the home.

The play has a small cast of six actors with returning production work by Deborah H. Malcolm as set designer and Jose M. Rivera as costume designer.

While the play makes references to Chekhov – famous for his plays like “The Seagull,” “The Cherry Orchard” and “Uncle Vanya” – in everything from character names to locations, Saunders said knowledge of his work isn’t required to enjoy the production. She said the humor is relatable, as are its more dramatic moments.

“Chekhov has nailed the hilarious, bittersweet horrors of everyday existence. So that’s what Durang has done, too, with, of course, a more comedic spin on it,” she said. “I hope people leave just feeling ‘Boy, that was fun.’ ”

Company actor Smith, who started with Sierra Rep in 1990 and was last seen as Alfred Doolittle in this season’s “My Fair Lady,” said his character Vanya acts as a referee between the two sisters. But he is also struggling with his own midlife crisis and questions about his future.

“Many people will recognize this point in life because we have a large audience of baby boomers-plus in the audience,” Smith said. “They will recognize many of the themes in this piece. Maybe even scream in their laughter in recognition of the angst people are having to struggle through and the everyday challenges of modern life.”

The play also has its kookier aspect, like the costume party the siblings head off to, where Masha insists they all dress as Snow White characters from the Disney film. Then there is the family’s maid and armchair psychic Cassandra (played by Jamaican actress Shuga Henry in her Sierra Rep debut).

Cassandra comes into the house once a week to clean and give predictions.

“Life is a journey, and we have all these different characters who pop up in our lives; sometimes we don’t understand what their purpose is. But they do have a purpose if we read between the lines. It seems like they’re all bashing heads. There’s an eccentric maid, movie star who thinks she is bigger than she is, brother and sister living together,” Henry said. “But in the end, they all care for each other. They all balance each other in crazy ways. And no one’s life is ‘normal.’ ”

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Sierra Rep brings kooky sibling drama to the stage."