Chekhov and Balances

So far, the Denver Center Theatre Company's new season has focused on classics — or close enough — with a new rendition of an old musical (The Unsinkable Molly Brown) and an in-the-round adaptation of one of the world’s most-read dystopian novels, Lord of the Flies. So maybe it’s time...

By Susan Froyd

October 30, 2014

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

So far, the Denver Center Theatre Company's new season has focused on classics — or close enough — with a new rendition of an old musical (The Unsinkable Molly Brown) and an in-the-round adaptation of one of the world’s most-read dystopian novels, Lord of the Flies. So maybe it’s time to cue up a black comedy? The DCTC’s staging of Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike should provide some roll-in-the-aisles comic relief when it opens at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Ricketson Theatre. Granted, Vanya, too, is something of a classic, with roots in Chekhov and Tony-winning cred, but it's definitely a different experience.

“I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun working on a play,” says Sam Gregory, who plays Vanya. “The script is a brilliant mashup of all things Chekhovian, as presented through Durang’s uniquely absurd and hilarious perspective. We spent a lot of time in rehearsal trying not to laugh.”

See what happens when Vanya’s celebrity sister Masha brings home her Hollywood boyfriend, Spike; Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spikeruns through November 16 in the Ricketson, located in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Tickets start at $41; reserve yours online at denvercenter.org or call 303-893-4100.
Fridays, Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, 1:30 p.m.; Tuesdays-Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Starts: Oct. 10. Continues through Nov. 16, 2014

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

Contact: Susan Froyd

Follow:

Facebook: sosfrojd

Twitter: @sosfrojd