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.
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.
