Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – What a difference a full production makes: LCT’s VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE & Goodman’s HOW TO CATCH CREATION

• By drediman
• March 25, 2021
• No Comments

After being primarily relegated to decidedly unflattering and minimally theatrical Zoom-type productions over the past year, it was refreshing to be able to stream a pair of fully-staged productions from the archives of two notable theater companies. No matter that these broadcasts were of past performances – being able to witness the “final product” (complete with full sets and costumes, as well as actual stage blocking) was a welcome change from status quo streaming and further whetted my appetite for the return of in-person theater.

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE
Lincoln Center Theater
On-demand through April 11

First up was the broadcast of Lincoln Center Theater’s production Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), which was filmed in 2012 during the play’s Off-Broadway run at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (the production would eventually move to Broadway and deservedly garner the Tony Award for Best Play). What a joy to once again experience this spirited Nicholas Martin-helmed production of one of Mr. Durang’s more accessible and balanced plays (which are often marked by their surreal, over-the-top theatricality). In this simultaneous modern day homage to and satire on Chekhov’s classic stage works, the playwright reigns in his tendency for extreme theatrics, resulting in a touching yet still often hilarious portrait of an off-kilter family. The cast – featuring the stellar original lineup of Genevieve Angelson, Shalita Grant, Billy Magnussen, Kristine Nielsen, David Hyde Pierce, and Sigourney Weaver – is to die for, and the performances are just as exuberant as I remember them. Although each steals the show in their own right, their collective work exemplifies ensemble acting of the highest order.

HOW TO CATCH CREATION
Goodman Theatre
On-demand through March 28

This week, I also had the opportunity to stream Christina Anderson’s new play How to Catch Creation, (RECOMMENDED), which enjoyed its world premiere at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre just in 2019. Ms. Anderson’s play is an ambitious piece of playwriting. It spans over half a century and attempts to capture the circumstances surrounding the creation of art (and children, too) – all through the lens of inter-generational Black and queer experiences. Despite its lofty aims, there’s a playful symmetry to Ms. Anderson’s work that makes for viewing that’s both entertaining and illuminating. And thanks to the effortless momentum generated by Niegel Smith’s direction, Goodman’s well-appointed staging (which was mounted and filmed at the Albert, the company’s mainstage) is a consistently compelling one. Although the production is warmly acted throughout, the women fare a tad better than the men, I suspect because their characters are more interestingly writtten. Led by the magnificent veteran Karin Aldridge (one of Chicago’s finest actresses over the years), I was also impressed by the Ayanna Bria Bakari’s confident performance as the play’s other strong female counterpoint. Given what’s transpired over the past year, I suspect this play will have a robust life after its pre-pandemic run in the Windy City.