Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Cronulla
The first production for 2026 at Arts Theatre Cronulla is Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang. The play premiered in New Jersey in 2012, and transferred to Broadway, where it won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2013. It is a comedy about the relationships of three single middle-aged siblings, Vanya, Sonia and Masha and her new toy boy, Spike.
Vanya and Sonia live in the family home, a country house in Bucks County Pennsylvania, that has a token cherry orchard. They were named after Chekhov's characters by their professor parents, who were amateur thespians. They have spent their adulthood looking after their now-dead parents and have not really had to grow up. Neither has a job, with money being provided by Masha, who owns the house and pays the bills.
Masha, whose successful acting career seems to be ending, arrives for a visit, bringing drama, insecurities and Spike, her much younger, attractive but dim-witted lover, whose acting career has never really started. Sonia's resentments and Masha's competitive nature spark arguments, while Vanya tries to keep the peace.
Other characters are the cleaning woman, Cassandra, a hilarious psychic prone to making dire prophecies that no one believes, and a young ingénue, Nina, who visits from next door and is star struck meeting Masha.
Masha has in fact come to attend a costume party at an influential neighbour's house and dresses up as Snow White, “from the Disney version”, and insists that the siblings go as dwarfs. Sonia rebels and dresses up as the evil queen, before she turns into the wicked witch. To Masha’s dismay and envy, Sonia’s costume of sequins and a tiara outshines her own, causing more conflict between the sisters.
As they prepare for the party, Masha announces that she intends to sell the house, leaving Vanya and Sonia devastated. Things come to a head the day after the party, as Cassandra uses a voodoo doll on Masha, trying to dissuade thoughts of selling the house,
Vanya, who is secretly writing a play, lets Nina read it in front of everyone. During the reading Spike rudely answers a text on his phone. Vanya reacts by launching into an impassioned rant, criticising the cultural regression in communication and media, while fondly and wistfully recalling the surroundings and memories of his childhood. The play acts as a catharsis, and the three siblings, optimistic for the first time in a very long time, revive their fondness for each other and listen to The Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun" as the lights go down.
Director Cheryl Butler, a long-term Durang fan, says “this production is driven by an extraordinarily talented cast whose generosity, precision and willingness to take risks brought these characters vividly to life. Their collaboration, commitment and sense of ensemble transformed each rehearsal into something exciting, meaningful and deeply rewarding.”
As a postscript, the Arts Theatre is very pleased to announce an upgrade to its seating, comprising larger chairs with more space between rows, providing more comfort for audiences to enjoy its wonderful productions.
The play opens on 13 February and runs till 21 March, with shows on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, with four Sunday matinees.
Tickets are $36/$33 and can be booked online via the theatre’s website:
https://www.artstheatrecronulla.com.au/
Photographers: Jeff Gall, Maria Franklin and Mark Phillips.
Click here to read our feature about Community Theatre seasons across Australia in 2026.
Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.
