Theater fan Hannah Leposa is excited to be living in Wilmington where there is a lively theatre community and high-quality performances.
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| The cast of CTC's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Photo by Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography. |
It was evident that director Joseph Pukatsch had a clear vision for the show, as everything worked seamlessly with each other, from the set by scenic designer Rick Neidig (which was beautiful and the set dressings had me believing I was looking at an old family home) to costumes and props by Coco G. Robocheaux and Jennifer Youngblood, respectively, the vision was clear.
The casting of Vanya and Sonia and Masha was perfection. The chemistry between them was electric, and their banter was as believable as a trio of actual siblings.
Vanya, the brother who is the most reserved of the three siblings and at least outwardly, is content with the way life is, is portrayed by Paul McElwee. McElwee performed the character with a sincere subtleness that had me watching his reactions to the unfolding story more often than not. Between his facial expressions and impeccable delivery, McElwee embodied the character perfectly.
and Sonia, the adopted sibling who is struggling with where she is in life and what she has, or rather has not accomplished, is portrayed by Jennifer Youngblood. Youngblood was a standout in this role; her comedic timing and ability to shift moods seamlessly without a hint of what was to come kept the character feeling fresh, relatable, and funny.
and Masha, the third sibling, and the successful actress, returning to the family home for a visit was portrayed by Kerry Kristine McElrone. McElrone’s range of emotion was astounding, from happy to jealous to sad, she easily portrayed them all believably.
and we cannot forget the final titular character, Spike, the young aspiring actor that Masha has been dating, played by Jordan Eck. Eck was hysterical as Spike, and his physical comedy was outstanding. He had me laughing out loud multiple times throughout the show.
Remaining cast members include Mary Catherine Kelley, as Cassandra the housekeeper who, like her namesake, believes she can see the future, and Mikala Plymer as the neighbor girl and would-be actress Nina. Both actresses were excellent additions to the cast.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is presented by City Theater Company. The show runs through Saturday, April 12, at The Black Box at The Delaware Contemporary, 200 S. Madison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. Tickets are $48.75 with student and military discounts available. They can be purchased at www.city-theater.org.
The show runs just over 2 hours plus a 15-minute intermission.
