Reviewed by Frank McKone
May 15
Setting: Bucks County, Pennsylvania USA. The year is 2013.
Cast:
Vanya – Chris Baldock; Sonia – Tracy Noble; Masha – Helen McFarlane
Spike – Darcy Worthy; Nina – Lily Welling: Cassandra – India Kazakoff
Production Team:
Director – Steph Evans; Asst Director – Gabrielle Purcell
Stage Manager – Gabrielle Purcell & Steph Evans
Set Design and Realisation – Chris Baldock, with Steph Evans and Gabrielle Purcell
Lighting Design – Rhiley Winnett and Steph Evans
Sound Design – Gabrielle Purcell
Costumes & Props – Chris Baldock, Steph Evans and Cast
Intimacy Director – Steph Evans
Photography – Zac Bridgman
Mockingbird’s presentation of this 21st Century highly American vision of how Anton Chekov’s late 19th Century Russian characters can make us laugh – and worry about the future – now as then, is like drinking a whole bottle of sparkling wine – superficially bubbly to start with, and a satisfying vintage by the end.
This success is because Chris Baldock has the imagination, the taste, and takes every care as the best winemakers do, working with a small, remarkably well-blended team to make sure every little detail is exactly right – from the Pennsylvania accents, to the extraordinary facial expressions by one who is speaking and everyone else in response, to the choreography, and the instant changes of attitudes and emotions.
This makes top-class comedy from Baldock himself as Vanya, the family elder (since their parents have ‘passed’); trying to live peacefully with his adopted sister Sonia, seeking more in life than just housekeeping; in massive contrast with his true sister Masha, actress in the extreme.
Not only does Masha turn the household topsy-turvy by bringing in the amazingly beautiful sexy young man Spike, who then brings in the equally beautiful sexy young woman Nina; but it is Masha who owns the house and pays for her siblings’ living costs, since her acting roles provided the money – until now as she is growing old, but doesn’t want to face playing grandmother in the next movie.
Then, taking us way back referentially from Chekov to ancient Greek theatre (is it Sophocles?) the weekly house-cleaner is Cassandra, who predicts the future but is not treated well by the Gods. The role is farcical, and just what is needed to make ‘normal’ life impossible – and awfully funny.
The style of acting all this is very much over-the-top, as you may imagine. You have to see the show to see it done – and everyone of these actors are at the professional standard the play requires.
Even to the point in the final scene when they achieve the seriousness of the absurdity of our lives to open our eyes. We may still be laughing while we applaud such great acting. Only afterwards we may start worrying about our own futures in post-2020s. It’s a great vintage at the end of the bottle; but we have to think about the effects of drinking so much all at once.
Another imbibement from Mockingbird not to be missed.
