Mirvish presents the 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Play Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike in Toronto
If you’re a fan of classical theatre, the title of Christopher Durang’s play Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike might lead you to expect an irreverent parody of a Chekhov play. The show does heavily reference the Russian playwright’s body of work; Durang borrows the names of familiar Chekhov characters, there are references to a cherry orchard and one of the characters randomly decides to start referring to the character Vanya as “Uncle Vanya” for no particular reason.
However, even if you know nothing about Chekhov, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike is still accessible and enjoyable as a madcap comedy centred on three middle-aged siblings. Despite its highbrow reference material the show plays out in the tone and style of a network sitcom. It reminded me of the TV show Frasier in that it’s well-written and funny even if you don’t get all in-jokes and literary references.
This week is an embarrassment of riches for theatre in Toronto. There’s so much to see so get out to the theatre! The shows I’ve indicated with two asterisks and red text are the ones I’d love to see this week. See if you agree or go check out anything else that speaks to you.
My Dinner with Casey Donovan is a ‘hilarious gay romp’ on stage at the Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto
The Cabaret Company’s current production of Sky Gilbert’s My Dinner With Casey Donovan playing at Theatre Passe Muraille is a hilarious gay romp mired in the queer sexual politics of the 1970s. What else would you expect from a play in which a nerdy fan boy invites his favorite pornstar to dinner with his parents?
