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Back Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Chapters (14)
  1. Cover
  2. Halftitle
  3. Also by the Author
  4. Title
  5. Copyright
  6. Dedication
  7. Introduction
  8. Sigourney Weaver's Speech
  9. Halftitle
  10. Production Credits
  11. Characters
  12. ACT I
  13. ACT II
  14. Back Cover

The cast for all three productions was as follows (in order of appearance):

Vanya David Hyde Pierce

Sonia Kristine Nielsen

Cassandra Shalita Grant

Masha Sigourney Weaver

Spike Billy Magnussen

Nina Genevieve Angelson

Understudies: Keith Reddin (Vanya), Linda Marie Larson (Sonia, Masha), Heather Alicia Simms (Cassandra), Creed Garnick (Spike), Liesel Allen Yeager (Nina). (Miss Yeager played the role of Nina for part of the run.)

Characters

CHARACTERS

VANYA

50s, living in Bucks County. Resigned to his life, more or less, at least compared to Sonia.

SONIA

His adopted sister, early 50s, living with him in Bucks County. Discontent, upset, regretful.

MASHA

His sister, 50s, glamorous and successful actress who goes gallivanting around the world.

SPIKE

An aspiring actor, 29 or younger, sexy, self-absorbed, Masha’s new ­companion.

NINA

Lovely, sincere would-be actress, early 20s, visiting her aunt and uncle next door. Starstruck and energetic.

CASSANDRA

Cleaning lady and soothsayer, any age, any race. In the original production, she was played by an African American actress in her late 20s.

Set in the present, a lovely farmhouse in Bucks County.

ACT I

ACT I

Scene 1

A farmhouse in Bucks County, PA. Not enormous, but comfortable, on a hill, many trees, a barn nearby, a pond in the near distance. There used to be a shed for peacocks, but the peacocks are long gone.

The Morning Room. Sunny, a sitting place with a nice window and comfortable wicker chairs.

VANYA, 55 to 60, in a nightshirt, walks in, carrying coffee. He sits, staring out the window. Sips the coffee, which tastes good. He feels somewhat contented. He stares a bit more. SONIA enters, age 50 or so, with coffee for him. Perhaps has a diet soda for herself. She is unsure of herself, melancholy, though keeps hoping for impossible things.

SONIA I brought you coffee, dearest Vanya.

VANYA I have some.

SONIA Oh. But I bring you coffee every morning.

VANYA Well, yes, but you weren’t available.

SONIA Well, I was briefly in the bathroom, you couldn’t wait?

VANYA I don’t know. The coffee was made, you weren’t there, I’m capable of pouring coffee into a cup.

SONIA But I like bringing you coffee in the morning.

VANYA Fine. Here, take this cup and give me that one.

SONIA All right.

She hands him the coffee she’s brought; he hands her his partly finished cup.

SONIA Now I feel better.

VANYA I’m glad.

Sonia sits. They both look out, staring into the distance.

SONIA Has the blue heron been at the pond yet this morning?

VANYA Not yet. Or it was here before I was.

SONIA It’ll probably come later. It’s such a beautiful bird.

VANYA Yes, it is. (sips the coffee) I’m afraid the other cup tasted better.

SONIA Well it’s the same coffee.

VANYA Well maybe I put in more milk than you did. Maybe that’s why it tastes better.

SONIA Don’t I usually put in the right amount of milk?