Actress enjoys challenge of egocentric character

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kevin Gardner

Roseann Cane, left, Kris Anderson and Christina Reeves star in 'Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,' opening at Curtain Call Theatre on Friday.

Christina Reeves can’t think of too many good things to say about her character in Christopher Durang’s 2013 Broadway hit, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” so she’ll just cut to the chase.

“She is likable,” said Reeves, who plays Masha in the Curtain Call Theatre production of Durang’s 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Play, opening Friday and running through June 27. “I love playing that kind of character. She just needs to be brought back down to Earth now and then.”

Portrayed by Sigourney Weaver in the Broadway production, Masha is, according to Reeves, “a little narcissistic and a little full of herself. She likes the limelight. It’s all about Masha.”

Family issues

Durang’s play, which pays homage to Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, tells the story of three middle-aged and single siblings dealing with family issues, including the possible sale of the family homestead.

‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’

‘Vanya and Sonia and

Masha and Spike’

WHERE: Curtain Call Theatre, 210 Old Loudon Road, Latham

WHEN: Opens Friday and runs through June 27; performance times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday

HOW MUCH: $24

MORE INFO: www.curtaincalltheatre.com, 877-7529

Masha, an actress who supports her two siblings, returns home with her boyfriend, Spike, played by Ryan Davis. Roseann Cane and Kris Anderson play the other two siblings, Sonia and Vanya.

Except for Anderson, the other three actors are making their debuts at Curtain Call. The production is being directed by Chris Foster.

Reeves, a teacher at Veeder Elementary in the South Colonie School District, is from western New York. Growing up, she didn’t have many chances to act.

But after a few appearances in some small independent films, some time with acting coach Lora Lee Ecobelli, and some stage work with the Ghent Playhouse and the Bird-On-A-Cliff Theatre Company in Woodstock, she was ready to audition at Carol Max’s Curtain Call in Latham.

“My acting teacher kind of threw it my way, told me to do it, so I went to the audition thinking, ‘well, at least it will be good practice,’ ” said Reeves, a resident of Slingerlands who moved to the Capital Region in 2003. “I thought I’d just chalk it up to experience, and then I was surprised to get a phone call from Carol. I was thrilled.”

New faces

Also in the cast are Cori Irwin and Mary Darcy, also new to Curtain Call.

“Except for our Vanya, Kris Anderson, everyone is new to Curtain Call,” said Max. “It’s pretty astounding that, in our 16th season, we still get these brand-new faces. People that I don’t know just show up for an audition and we cast them because they’re so good.”

In Reeves’ case, performing on stage is something she never would have dreamed of in high school or college.

“I guess when I was young, going to a small school, we didn’t have a lot of opportunities to act,” she said. “I was in the band, I worked hard on my studies and I played sports. I was the youngest of three kids, so I just did what they did.”

Reeves said her experience working with the cast and Foster, a favorite director in the Capital Region theater community, has been a very pleasant one.

“I had heard so many good things about, and he’s definitely living up to his reputation,” Reeves said of Foster. “He’s very helpful, so you don’t have to try to read between the lines. He’s very much to the point.”

Reach Gazette reporter Bill Buell at 395-3190 or [email protected]