Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Bromley Little Theatre

Following a break in August for our Saturday matinees at Bromley Little Theatre we returned to a comedy which had won awards on Broadway and brought to the UK in 2019. Bromley Little Theatre has been trying to get the rights to perform since then.

This was an enjoyable play with many references to Chekov, not least the naming of characters whose parents had named the three siblings and in particular Vanya and Masha. There were some very funny moments and Spike seemed to be rehearsing for the November production of The full Monty.

Set in the USA Masha a famous film actress had returned home to her two siblings who had nursed their ageing parents until their deaths. They were jealous of Masha and her glamourous lifestyle who appeared with her much younger lover, Spike. Into this appeared Cassandra, the cleaner who came with all her soothsaying and warnings and a young Nina, visiting relatives nearby, who evoked jealousy in Masha and interest from Spike. The six cast members all played their parts well and we particularly enjoyed Marion Barker as Sonia’s take on a Maggie Smith accent and also Spike, played by Kobi Maynard, revealing his physique. Richard Gissing as Vanya gave us an incredible tantrum which must have been really difficult to perform and remember.

All in all an interesting and provocative play which was well performed and directed as always.

Contributed by Mary Garside