For two weekends, starting on Friday, October 27, Home Made Theater will present the Tony Award winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is the story of middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia, who share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike contains some adult language.
Making his directorial debut at Home Made Theater is Barry Streifert, who has previously won TANYS (Theater Association of New York State) Awards for his directing at Confetti Stage and Sand Lake Center for the Arts/Circle Theater Player. The rest of the production staff includes Scenic Designer Shawn Morgan, Lighting Designer Jacob Pickett, Sound Designer Anne-Marie Baker, Costume Designer Dianne O’Neill, Properties Designer Maura Pickett, and Stage Manager Liam Pickett. This production is a family affair, having three members of the Pickett family on the production staff.
The cast of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike includes actors new to Home Made Theater audiences, as well as some familiar faces. Making their Home Made Theater debut are Elizabeth Parizh and Noreen Smuzl. Ms. Parizh was cast in Home Made Theater’s 2020 production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, but was unable to perform due to the Covid-19 shutdown. And though Ms. Smuzl is new to Home Made Theater, area theater-goers will recognize her from appearances at Glens Falls Community Theatre, Troy Blackbox, and Consortium Actors in Latham. Returning to the Home Made Theater Stage is Logan Haynes, last seen in She Loves Me, Barbara Miner, who appeared in last season’s production of The Lifespan of a Fact, Terri Storti, seen last in ‘night, Mother, and John Sutliff, whose most recent Home Made Theater appearance was in Mamma Mia!.
Performances will be October 27 – 29 and November 2 – 5. Performances are 7:30 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2:00 on Sundays. Performances will be at the Dee Sarno Theater, in Saratoga ArtsDawn Oesch (320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs). Tickets are available on Home Made Theater’s website, www.homemadetheater.org, or by calling 518-587-4427 during box office hours (Mon.-Fri. Noon-4:00pm).