CSC theatre presents Christopher Durang’s mayhem-infused comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”

“Beware Hootie Pie!” is shouted from the stage by Cassandra, the cleaning lady/resident psychic in Christopher Durang’s “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.”

The production is set in the present day at a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse, but the set and characters seem to be stuck in a 1950s “time warp.” We’re first introduced to the Hardwick family with Vanya, played by Casey Kukowski, senior of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, and Sonia, played by Mickenzi Loyd, senior of Big Piney, Wyoming, adopted siblings in their 50s stuck in the same mundane routine. Together the pair lament their circumstances that led to them taking care of their parents for 15 years while their actress sister, Masha, played by Taylor Thies, junior of Rapid City, South Dakota, traveled the world. 

In the midst of their misery in bursts Cassandra, played by Hannah Smith, junior of Broken Bow, an eccentric cleaning lady who claims to have psychic powers. Though many of her “warnings” do not pan out, she tells Vanya and Sonia to “beware Hootie Pie.” Shortly after her ominous warning, Sonia tells Vanya that Masha will be visiting.

Enter Masha and Spike, played by freshman Trajan Garcia, of Alliance, her 29-year-old lover with an air headed upbeat personality. Sibling feuding ensues, culminating after a costume party that Masha spearheads as well as a threat to sell the Hardwick house. Each character lays their emotional cards on the table, resulting in raw revelations that make for an unorthodox family reunion.

The duality of the cast is the driving force for this play, with characters being neurotic, angry, hopeful and nostalgic all at once. Though the entire play takes place in the living room of the Hardwick residence, audience members will feel as if they’ve been transported to Pennsylvania country circa 1955.  

Though the cast had not heard of Durang’s play before, members described excitement after reading through the play and even envisioned themselves as specific characters.

“Once I went through the script, I got a little bit excited. I knew right away that if I got a role it’d probably be Spike. It’s just a fun role to be doing,” Garcia said.

Fellow cast member Smith said she wasn’t sure what the play would be like at first, but the journey has been a fun one.

“I didn’t really have any idea what it was going to be going into it. I had no idea who any of the characters were, so it’s been a lot of fun to just see everyone develop their character through that,” Smith said.

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A 2 p.m. matinée on Sunday will cap off the production.

Tickets are not required for the free event, but seating can be reserved at csc.edu/theatre.