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Andy Butterfield on playing 'Spike' in "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"

9/30/2014

 
Andy Butterfield
What gets you excited about returning to work at Vermont Stage again after THE QUARRY?

Vermont Stage offers a completely professional and collaborative theater experience for all modes of theater artists. The production teams are first-rate and their efforts create a rehearsal environment anchored in trust and support, which allows for actor vulnerability and experimentation with bold choices. Once a VSC show opens, the smart and appreciative audiences, including the loyal season subscribers and dedicated board members, fill the seats and offer their participation in the collaboration, completing the circular flow of energy between actor and audience.

What character are you playing and how would you describe him to someone? 

I'm playing Spike, an attention craving, aspiring actor. He's very loving, but not all there. There's a Seinfeld episode where Elaine dates a guy that Jerry calls a "Mimbo"...a male bimbo. That's Spike. Women, fitness, and food motivate most of his day-to-day decisions and he brings chaos into a room whenever he enters.

How have you been preparing to take on this role? 

One of the requirements of the actor who gets the opportunity to play Spike is to have a believably fit body. So, in addition to my usual script analysis and character exploration, I've been training hard at Crossfit TT in South Burlington, and eating a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. As Spike says, "If you got it, flaunt it", so I've made a great effort towards that demand. My approach to character work generally starts from a physical place. Once I get the sense of a character in my body, their motivations and active choices are more intellectually accessible to me. With Spike, in particular, I've discovered that I personally connect with his athleticism and I can use that as a way into understanding the decisions he makes. It also gives me the opportunity to highlight the strong physical aspects of him in the performance.

What is your favorite line in the show? 

There are so many great lines in this show. They're funny out of context, and even funnier in context. You should definitely see this show for the full effect, but in this specific moment, I guess my favorite line is, "No, I can just strip to my underwear...see you later babe, I'm gonna go cool off in the pond." Haha...soooo Spike.

What would you like the audience to be thinking about after the show? 

I would like the audience to be thinking that their jaw and abs hurt because they couldn't stop smiling and laughing for the previous two hours.

Lili Gamache on playing Sonia in "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"

9/23/2014

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Lili Gamache
What character are you playing?
I'm playing Sonia, a middle aged, unmarried woman who has lived for decades with her gay brother, in a childlike bubble of privilege. Yet she is growing increasingly discontent, coming to realize she's craving a bigger, better life. But she is unsure how to get 'unstuck'.

Then spurred on by the events of the weekend, she gradually begins stepping out of her comfort zone, and is THRILLED.

What do you think this play is about?

It's a universal theme about how people get stuck in behaviors and routines, and how fiercely they cling to them - long past when they are served by them. And how it takes a major event to re-awaken their hope and imagine new possibilities.

You've worked with Vermont Stage in the past. What gets you excited about returning to work here again?

I moved back to Vermont in 1992 from Los Angeles, where I'd been working in show business. At that time, the only professional theatre in town was St. Michael's Summer Playhouse. I felt like a sailor in a land locked country. My acting career went on hold while I figured out the Vermont way of making a living, but my creative soul was shriveling. Then one day out of the blue, I got a call - a new professional theatre company was starting up and would I like to help out on the first production? YES! In the 20+ years since, I've been a sometime participant, a front row audience member, and an ardent supporter of this wonderful organization. Nothing is as exciting to me, as that moment when the lights go down, the audience quiets, and then the magic begins.

What excites you about working on this show?

The short answer is the people!
But I like lists, so here goes -

1. The privilege of working again at Vermont Stage under Cristina Alicea's inspired direction is at the top of my list.
2. The joy of collaborating with this talented cast of actors: Aly, Andy, Ellen, Ito, & Kraig.
3. The professionalism and creativity of the entire production team.

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Kraig Swartz on playing Vanya in "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"

9/17/2014

 
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What character are you playing and how would you describe them to someone? I'm playing Vanya and I would describe him as a person who keeps the peace.  He is surrounded by difficult/eccentric/insane/combative people, and his first priority is to prevent explosions.  I think conflict upsets and exhausts him, and he therefore ignores his own emotions in order to deal with the emotions of his family....until he doesn't....

Is there anything about playing Vanya that you can relate to? 

Of course.  I'm the youngest child in my family, and is the case with many youngest children, my role in my family was always the mascot.  My job was to keep the dinner conversation light, funny and free of conflict. If ever I sensed trouble brewing in the family, it was time for me to start the comedy, thus averting the tragedy.  While Vanya is not the youngest sibling, he spends the whole play putting out interpersonal fires that keep flaring up all around him.  Also, Vanya is dealing with getting older.  I am too.....that's all I want to say about that...

What do you think this play is about? 

Two things.  Family and change.  And how those things relate to and influence each other.  We take on these roles in families.  Often these roles are for the good of the family and initially beneficial.  But if we're not careful, we get trapped in these roles and the years go by and suddenly we realize that we haven't really moved on with our lives. Emotionally or otherwise.  And while breaking out of those old roles can be frightening, staying in them is not an option.  Most of the characters in V&S&M&S are reaching that critical point in their lives, where the time for stasis is over and change (wanted and unwanted) is careening towards them.  And then everyone goes nuts.

What is your favorite line in the show? 

Of my own, it's:  "Having professors for parents had it's drawbacks.  Father was so angry when you didn't know something.  But what 7 year old knows who wrote The Imaginary Invalid? Father became so enraged when I said Neil Simon.  I, mean, I was 7!!!"  But my favorite line in the entire play is Spike's, for it's sheer character-defining narcissistic weirdness:  "But the unhappy orphanage lady thinks I'm a stud, that's nice."  Genius.

Why should someone come to see this show? 

Because it's freakin' hysterical and they will have a blast.


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