Review: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Fringe 2024

The Fringe throws curveballs; sometimes they work out well, sometimes they don’t, and as I sat down for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, I quickly encountered two of the blighters!

Before the Edinburgh Theatre Arts performance started, we were told that Caitlin Christmas was ill. We were one actor down, someone who’s sacrificed themselves to the day job of being a teacher, and the Stage Manager would fill the role of Cassandra while reading her lines from the book.

Uh-oh.

Good news! Sheila Thomson was ace as the well-intended interfering housecleaner. I guess you only end up as a Stage Manager with a whole host of stage magic in you.

The rest of the cast, Danny Farrimond, Janey Grant, Edith Peers, Edward DeRuiter and Georgie Purvis, were also top-notch.

What was the second curveball? I really didn’t like the characters. The perky Nina was the exception, and Vanya and Cassandra were often tolerable but still prone to rubbing me the wrong way.

There’s a whole Wikipedia page on the award-winning Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike play, but I found it hard to emote with people who want positive changes in their life while not making the effort to achieve it and pretty much resisting any change at all.

Tone

My takeaway from Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is mild frustration. It’s a funny play at times, emotional too, and I guess if you start rooting for the complex characters, then you’ll like how it slowly layers together at first, then picks up speed and finally crashes together in some cathartic temper tantrum.

The play is a family drama without the excuse of a birthday or Christmas. It starts with a squabble where Sonia and Vanya quickly outline their personality. Here the tone is measured and subtle.

Shortly, Masha and Spike arrive. They are not measured and subtle. Both like to be the centre of attention. If you don’t like someone shouting out their name, then you won’t like Spike. At this stage, the diva level amplifies dramatically.

The tone is adult as the characters face middle-age dramas and because Spike, a toy boy, likes to take his trousers off.

The accent is American. There’s a gun on the stage.

What to expect

Good news comes early: The seats in the St. Ninian’s Hall Theatre are comfortable, and the set is amazing. This must be the only show running here.

There’s also an intermission with low-cost crisps and drinks in the garden. I wish all Fringe venues had St. Ninian’s prices. There is no profiteering here, and I imagine many volunteers.

The story is told on one set, but don’t expect our actors to stay on it. At times, sometimes being loud, the actors use the aisle space in the middle of the audience.

As noted, Spike likes to strip down to this underwear, and the show is rated 12+. That feels about right, but I’ve never been a 13-year-old girl, and Spike could be an eye-opener. Edward DeRuiter, who plays Spike, is talented and young, physically impressive with all sorts of muscles.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike have family rows but no violence except for the occasional thrown mug.

Overall

I wish I liked the characters more! It was hard to care for their fate, but I almost always dislike people who, despite any hardships and complications they’ve faced in the past, won’t try to take the first step to help themselves.

That’s the characters, though. The actors worked magic to bring these people to life on a well-decorated stage.

It’s a good sign that both halves of the play concluded in what felt like no time at all. If you’re a fan of community theatre, then absolutely check out Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, as I’m sure you’ll be impressed. If not, the show might still be worth taking a risk on and a trip through Stockbridge.