Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
by
Christopher Durang
November
2017
SYNOPSIS
Vanya and Sonia (named after Chekhovian characters by their theatre-loving, academic parents) have lived their entire lives in the family’s farmhouse in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
While they stayed home to take care of their ailing parents, their sister Masha has been gallivanting around the world as an oft-married successful actress and movie star, leaving Vanya and Sonia to feel trapped and resentful at home. Meanwhile, the soothsayer/cleaning woman, Cassandra, warns them of terrible events to happen in the near future — events which do come true. Masha sweeps in with her good-looking toyboy, Spike. She is planning to sell the house, for which she no longer intends to pay the upkeep.
Then Nina, the niece of a neighbour, is drawn into the circle, the Chekhovian cast is complete. A nearby costume party and Vanya’s attempt at having his long-withheld avant-garde play performed before his siblings crown a weekend of rivalry, regret, and raucousness.
DIRECTOR
Claudia Wicki
CAST
Vanya
Ciaran Corsar
Sonia
Bouqui Stautmeister
Masha
Frances Vella
Spike
Tomi Gustaf
Cassandra
Marianne Alewine
Nina
Courtney Beamish
PRODUCTION PHOTOS
BEHIND THE SCENES
Production Coordinator
Tim Purdue
Assistant Director
Luke Walker
Stage Managers
Helena Sievi, Jim Carson, Andrea Manuela Rüttimann, Sayora Sadikova
Props
Dana Ryffel, Christina Whiting, Karen Siber, nne Jiricny
Set Design
Anita Gander
Set Construction
Members of the Club
Lighting Design
Tiina Palojärvi, Andreas Stahl
Lighting Crew
Bruce Gailey, Nilesh Ghaisas, Arseniy Klimovskiy, Asia Szczeszek
Costumes
Dana Ryffel, the Cast
Costume Change
Mary Seidler, Karen Siber, Make-up Crew
Hair and Make-up
Bettina Psóra
Hair and Make-up Crew
Chris Eusebio-Ellis, Maureen Grimm, Ulyana Lessani
Sound Design
Tim Purdue
Sound Crew
Susan DePaul, Beat Lanz, Joanna Martinho, Oliver Pont, Deborah Somers
Prompters
Alan Bridgman, Joan Bridgman, Irene Lautenbach
Transportation
Mike Peggs, Hans Schmid
Publicity
Paul Bilton
Poster/Cover Design
Paul Bilton
Programme Editor
Markus Wyler
Layout & Printing
Schneider Druck AG, 8032 Zürich
Video/Trailer
Neil Watcyn-Palmer
Photography
Tom Hofmänner
Box Office
Ciaran Corsar, Members of the Club
Front of House
Valery Niggli, Members of the Club