|
.gif) |
'Over the River' is a fun, poignant story of
family
|
| MARCIA POBZEZNIK
Special to the Herald News |
August
18, 2001 |
|
 |
Little Theatre of Fall River actors, from left,
Richard Pelletier, Martha Peladeau, Suzie Gardner and Ron
Robinson rehearse "Over the River and Through the Woods,"
which opens tonight at the Firebarn. Herald News Photo by OMAR
BRADLEY
| FALL
RIVER -- "Over the River and Through the Woods," a comedy about
Italian-American grandparents in New Jersey who try to keep their
grandson Nick from moving away, opens tonight at Little Theatre of
Fall River's Firebarn. |
Director Betty Ward of Portsmouth, R.I., the new president of
Little Theatre, said the comedy is one of her favorites. She first
saw it in New York and again in Boston. "I fell in love with it,"
said Ward, who thought more than once that playwright Joe DiPietro
"must have spied on my family."
DiPietro has been described
as the Italian-American Neil Simon. He also wrote the long-running
off-Broadway revue, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," which
is also currently playing in Boston.
Nick, a single guy whose
parents have retired to Florida, spends every Sunday at his
grandparents' house, but that tradition would soon end if he takes a
job promotion.
Set at the house of his grandparents Aida and
Frank, where Sunday dinners always include his other set of
grandparents, Emma and Nunzio, the comedy has drama and poignant
moments "as does life," says Ward.
"Those of us who grew up
with extended family," with grandparents who were immigrants "will
certainly identify and appreciate it more," said Ward, who grew up
in a Portuguese household with a large family.
The furniture
on the set is at least 30 years old. Ward says grandparents rarely
have anything new. There is a picture of the Last Supper on the
wall, and there is always lots of food. And like in any family,
there is miscommunication.
When the grandparents invite
Caitlin, an attractive, single woman to dinner to try to entice Nick
not to take the new job away from home, lasagna is served for
dinner. Caitlin tells them she is a vegetarian.
"The current
world is somewhat foreign to them," said Ward, so they hear the word
as "veterinarian" and assume she is an animal doctor. Caitlin
corrects them and says she is a nurse, and they take it to mean she
is a nurse to animals.
"Act II shows the other side of it,"
said Barbara Gerraughty of Fall River, stage manager and a 20-year
veteran ofLittle Theatre.
"It's touching. The grandparents
are trying to hold onto their grandson," said Gerraughty, and while
Nick wants to be true to them, he also needs to follow his heart. "I
really do like the fact that there is such a range of emotions," she
said. "The letting go of someone you love ... It's the reality of
life."
The cast includes David Champa, a student at Bristol
Community College, who plays Nick;Ron Robinson (Frank); Richard
Pelletier (Nunzio); Christine Pelletier (Caitlin); Suzie Gardner
(Aida) and Martha Peladeau (Emma).
Shows tonight and Saturday
are at 8 p.m.; Sunday's show is at 7 p.m. The show also runs Aug.
23-25 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Discounts are
available for students, seniors and groups of 20 or more. All shows
are at the air conditioned Firebarn at the corner of Prospect Street
and Highland Avenue. Call the box office at 508- 675-1852.
|
| ©The
Herald News 2002 |
 |
Reader
Opinions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I haven't sen
the show but do know some of the cast members.
Break-A-Leg everyone, and enjoy the show!
|
| |
|
|
| Number of
Opinions: 1 |
1 - 1 of 1
| | |
|
|
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
