It will make you laugh until your stomach hurts.
That is the promise of director Michael K. Hewitt about his upcoming Squamish production.
Marking the start of the theatre season in Squamish, Hewitt’s rendition of the Tony-Award winning play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, presented by Between Shifts Theatre, hits the stage Oct. 6 at the Eagle Eye Theatre.
“It is great because it is a really, really funny play and it is a great way to ease into the season,” Hewitt said.
The action of the play takes place over a weekend in an old family home that houses middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia.
The pair bemoans the lost opportunities of their lives, the maid foretells doom and then the sibling’s movie star sister, Masha, arrives with her hunky boyfriend.
“The family is launched into a rollicking weekend of oneupmanship, exposed nerves, and a lot of broken mugs,” reads the play’s press release.
The play, written by Christopher Durang, won the Tony Award For Best Play in 2013.
“Chris Durang is a brilliant comedic writer and he has a very interesting style of writing,” Hewitt said.
“Because this is sort of a blended comedy with [Anton Chekhov] themes… it is not just your standard slapstick, kind of farcical comedy. It is clever and there’s also great moments that will get you in the feels.”
In rehearsals Hewitt has found himself bent over laughing, he said.
The cast is made up of Rod Neufeld playing brother Vanya; adopted sister Sonia is played by Theatre BC Best Female Actress award winner Kathryn Daniels; movie star Masha is played by Carla Fuhre; Todd Weitzel, who has been in every play Hewitt has directed, plays boy-toy Spike; Amy Reid is the wacky maid Cassandra; and newcomer to Squamish Aimée McGurk completes the cast as Nina, the star-struck neighbour. Squamish theatregoers seem to prefer comedies, filling the theatre when they can laugh, Hewitt said.
“People love coming out and having a good time and leaving the theatre feeling excited and fresh and having a sore gut from laughing all night.”
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike runs Oct. 6 to 8 and 12 to 15.
Tickets are available online at www.betweenshiftstheatre.com or in-person at both Billie’s Flower House and InBiz located on Cleveland Avenue.
