By Christopher Durang
Directed by Nicholas Martin
Lincoln Center
What's it about?
Three siblings named after Chekhov characters whose lives -- and conversations -- have traces of The Seagull, Three Sisters, Uncle Vanya and Chekhov themes in their lives but these folks are way funnier. Vanya (the always excellent David Hyde Pierce) and sister, Sonia (a marvelous Kristine Nielsen) live uneventful lives in their Bucks County, PA farmhouse. They gaze out at the cherry orchard and at the lake where a heron lands every day and wonder what their lives might have been like if they hadn't missed out by having to care for their elderly parents until their death.Vivacious sister, Masha (Sigourney Weaver at her comic best), paid the bills, but escaped to a more glamorous life as a successful Hollywood actress.
To Vanya and Sonia's horror, Masha considers selling the expensive home (a combination of interior and exterior of f the house -- is there some Chekhov here? -- by designer David Korins). She arrives for a visit with much younger, dimwitted actor boyfriend, Spike (Billy Magnussen) in tow. The two share a sexual attraction, but the perfectly coiffed and attired Masha (Emily Rebholz, costume design) worries about the age difference, especially when Spike takes an interest in Nina (Genevieve Angeson), a nymph-like, beautiful and young wanna-be actress he meets on the beach next door.
Adding more humor to the mix is Cassandra (Shalita Grant), the family's housekeeper who is gripped with strong clairvoyant visions, not unlike her Greek goddess namesake.
What are the highlights?
Solid performances across the board and taught direction. Kudos to Durang for a sharp, humor-filled script that has depth with regards to the Chekhov themes layered in there. Everything is really, really funny. In fact, the last time I remember an audience laughing throughout a show like this was at God of Carnage. Both Nielsen, who delivers a wide spectrum of emotions, and Pierce have soliloquies that are tours de force and Weaver is enchanting with amazing body language to tell Masha's self-absorbed, insecure story. Her turn as Masha talking like Snow White on her way to a costume party is a hoot.
What are the lowlights?
None. A lot of good theater.
More information:
The play was commissioned by and is presented in association with the McCarter Theater Center at Princeton. It runs Off-Broadway at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, 150 West 65th St., NYC through Jan. 13. Tickets: 212-239-6200; http://lct.org/showMain.htm?id=212.
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