The Power of Family Feuds: Sonia and Masha and Spike Presented by Wasatch Theatre
Art
In between the witty humor and crude jokes are very serious themes in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike that surround the idea of family feuds and financial struggles. Masha believes her money is wasted on the family house where Vanya and Sonia live, while her siblings believe Masha owes them for taking care of their parents. Durang also included modern societal issues embedded in commentary in his play, such as when Vanya remarks, “Now, now there’s Twitter and email and Facebook and cable and satellite, and movies and TV shows that are all worthless,” and that “Our lives are disconnected.” Considering that this line from Vanya is near the end of the play, it could easily be concluded that the majority of the struggles the characters face such as poverty, depression, loneliness, anxiety, guilt and the difficulty of forgiveness are largely due to the lack of “togetherness” that Vanya misses so much. Our modern obsession with the self and addictions to devices and social media farther seclude us from our friends and our family. Durang hits home with messages about the importance of being around those who matter most to you and, rather than thinking strictly of the self, helping others achieve their goals. Wasatch Theatre Company clearly understands Durang’s desire to send a message alongside his jokes.
Wasatch Theatre Company has never disappointed me with their performances. Their directors are dedicated, the actors are top-notch and the designers succeed in making the play and director’s vision a reality. This play is a story about forgiveness, the strength of family and how, in the end, we all have the power within ourselves to break out of our comfort zones and become the person we’ve always been too frightened to be—especially if we have the help from the ones we care about. If you want a show that’s as funny as it is inspirational, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is the show to see.