Madison Van Allen playing Nina
Tell us a little about character. Are you anything like them?
Nina and I are almost polar opposites! Where Nina shines with unbridled optimism, I am shaded with a teensy bit more pessimism. Where Nina is innocent and pure, I am…as my friends and family would attest, not. Where Nina and I overlap, however, is in our passion for the arts and our appreciation for those who love them as much as we do. I truly admire Nina’s endless compassion, thoughtfulness, and positivity. It’s such a breath of fresh air to view the world through her eyes every night, and I hope to bring some of her beautiful spirit into my daily life.
Do you have any siblings? Are you close to them?
Yes, I do! I have four older brothers and stepbrothers, one younger stepbrother, and a younger stepsister! We are a large, large family. I wasn’t close with many of them when I was younger - but not because l didn’t try to be! I always wanted to fit in with my older siblings, but they were “too cool for school”! In their defense, I was quite an annoying, noisy child… Fortunately, when we got older, I learned how to tell a joke correctly and how to finish a story without getting distracted, and we became much closer after that. Now we hang out at least once a month and play games together!
What’s the hardest part about being in a comedy like Vanya and Sonia?
Besides trying not to break out into laughter onstage (which this cast makes very difficult!), I think the hardest part about tackling Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is balancing the show’s absurd comedy with its moments of sobering realism and genuine wholesomeness. I’ve found this especially difficult, and all the more important, while portraying Nina, who serves as a beacon of hope and optimism throughout the show and spends most of her time taking in the kookiness of the individuals around her. The playwright, the late Christopher Durang, presents audiences with an outrageous set of characters, from a middle-aged, melodramatic C-list actress to an eccentric, soothsaying cleaning lady, and yet manages to intricately weave in tough conversations about loss, regret, and the endless march of time and tender moments of self-reflection throughout the script. Ensuring that the realism of the show isn’t overshadowed by its inherent hilarity has been a great challenge that I have loved taking on as a performer.
Herbal or caffeinated tea?
Herbal tea! My favorite is Yogi’s Kava Tea for Stress Relief (not sponsored). I drink it… a reasonable number of times a week.
What’s your favorite kind of pie?
An unpopular opinion - I actually don’t like most pies! BUT - I am a big fan of a French Silk Pie. Yum!