Cherie Gil Headlines ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’, REP’s 2017 Season opener
Highly-acclaimed stage and television actress Cherie Gil leads the cast of Repertory Philippines, more popularly known as REP’s first offering for its 2017 season, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.
Cherie Gil, Michael Williams, Roselyn Perez, and Joaquin Valdes lead the cast of REP’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.
REP starts off its 50th year line-up with a biting comedy which runs from January 20 to February 12 at the OnStage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City.
Awarded as Best Play during the 2013 Tony Awards, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is a witty piece of writing by Christopher Durang that cleverly mixes in Russian playwright Anton Chekov’s characters in what a New York Times reviewer called “a sunny play about gloomy people.” Fear not if you haven’t read a word from Chekov, because this quirky comedy of manners is meant to be relatable to any audience.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike tells the story of three siblings – named after Chekhov characters by their academic parents, and who are all living their namesakes’ unhappiness. The character of Vanya is played by REP veteran theater actor and director Michael Williams, while Philstage Gawad Buhay awardee Roselyn Perez takes on the role of Vanya’s sister Sonia.
Michael Williams as Vanya
Roselyn Perez as Sonia
These two siblings have never left the confines of their childhood home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Bitterly they complain about their uneventful lives, lost dreams and missed opportunities while they witness the glamorous escapades of their more successful movie star sister, Masha, played by Cherie Gil.
Cherie Gil as Masha
As the siblings’ fortune-telling maid, Cassandra (note the reference to the Greek princess who had the gift of prophecy, and a matching curse of no one believing in her), starts prophesying impending dangers, Masha arrives to visit one weekend while toting her new sexy boy toy Spike played by Joaquin Valdez.
Joaquin Valdes as Spike
The normally quiet household is thrown into one rollicking weekend full of lust, rivalry, regret, and the possibility of escape.
REP’s own version is definitely something to look forward to with veteran actor and director Bart Guingona directing the production. The cast also includes REP veterans Naths Everett as Cassandra and Mica Pineda as Nina. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will make you laugh out loud at the same time think about the toils and troubles of life.
Director Bart Guingona
Natalie Everett as Cassandra
Mica Pineda as Nina
Catch REP’s first offering for the season as the company opens the curtains for its 50th anniversary.
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For more information about what’s happening in the Manila theater scene, please view our Theater Calendar.
