Auditions: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Directed Terry Collins

Welcome to the insane world of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Not normally a lover of directing comedy or farce, I fell in love with this play when I first read it.

It is hysterically funny in parts, droll in others.

The characters are all well-rounded and an actor’s dream.

The recurrent references to Checkhov, Maggie Smith and TV shows of the past will delight our theatre-wise and older audiences and there is enough slapstick and farce to amuse younger audiences.

I feel this play has it all and can’t wait to bring it to life with Terry Matthews as Assistant Director and Fran Armstrong as Stage Manager.

The play is set in Pennsylvania, USA but I am not concerned with American accents.

A softened Aussie accent will do just fine.

Terry Collins, Director

The roles

Vanya is scripted as 57 but could be anything up to 70 or beyond. Quiet spoken, a closet gay, he is resigned to his lot in life but still has a lot of passion in him, which emerges towards the end of the play

Sonia is the adopted sister of Vanya and Masha, again scripted as early 50s but could be up to 70. She is bitter about what life is thrown at her, jealous of her more glamorous sister, but sees a whole new world of possibilities through the play

Masha, again scripted as early 50s could be up to 70 – the casting of all three main characters will depend upon the ages and chemistry of the actors. Masha is a glamorous and successful actress desperately trying to hold onto her youth

Spike, as aspiring actor aged 20s-30s is the much younger lover of Masha. He is sexy and self-absorbed.

Nina, 20s-30s is a lovely and sincere would-be actress visiting relatives nearby who is an admirer of Masha’s work and becomes fond of the entire family. She is more spirited than one thinks at first

Cassandra is the occasional housekeeper – a gem of a role. She could be anything from 20s to 60s and beyond. She is acerbic, slightly psychic and more than slightly unhinged – or is she? This character switches from hard done by housekeeper to quoter of all manner of philosophers in a semi-trance-like state and even practises a bit of voodoo

Audition Dates and Times

• Audition Thursday 13th and Thursday 20th March 2025
• Registration 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.
• The Peninsula Theatre (home of Woy Woy Little Theatre), John Hoare Cl, Woy Woy 2256
• Open auditions. Everyone is welcome, no need to book. Audition pieces below.

Venue: Rehearsals and performances will be held at The Home of Woy Woy Little Theatre – The Peninsula Theatre, John Hoare Cl, Woy Woy.

Performance dates are 25th July – 10th August 2025.

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