Joe Di Pietro's Over the River and Through the Woods was, of course, beautifully done by the professionals at Williamston Theatre — and it brought an extra tear to the eye when I realized that three of the four grandparents from Riverwalk's production (directed by Susan Chmurynsky just 10 years ago) are no longer with us: Judy Such, Merrill Wyble and Marilyn Steegstra. (I believe John Minsky is still jumpin' but I think he moved from the area; will wait for a Christmas card...)
The show is heartwarming, food-filled, and funny - as two sets of Italian immigrant grandparents in New Jersey plead and plot to prevent their grandson from taking a job across the country. In the process, they dispense a load of laughs and some pithy wisdom about the importance of family and coping with change and loss.
Andrew Faber was perfect as Nick, the doted-over grandson, matched by a charming and down to earth Carolyn Conover as "the girl who will make him stay." The grandparents were all exasperatingly adorable: Arthur Beer (well remembered as last season's "Ebenezer") Mary Bremer Beer (real life spouse, I assume? A good start to portraying such a genuine, loving, onstage couple.) David Daoust (used to be Jones back in his BoarsHead days; I think I saw him as "the kid" Ellard in The Foreigner maybe 30-some years ago, and here he is playing a believable grandfather to a 29 year old - time does fly....) And Gloria Vivalda, lovingly force-feeding everyone, had the best of a fine set of New Jersey Italian accents - maybe because she really DID grow up in New Jersey.
Kudos to cast and crew and director Tony Caselli. The show continues through December 29.
www.williamstontheatre.com
It's a small theatre - so reservations are a good idea.
(517) 655-SHOW (7469)
The show is heartwarming, food-filled, and funny - as two sets of Italian immigrant grandparents in New Jersey plead and plot to prevent their grandson from taking a job across the country. In the process, they dispense a load of laughs and some pithy wisdom about the importance of family and coping with change and loss.
Andrew Faber was perfect as Nick, the doted-over grandson, matched by a charming and down to earth Carolyn Conover as "the girl who will make him stay." The grandparents were all exasperatingly adorable: Arthur Beer (well remembered as last season's "Ebenezer") Mary Bremer Beer (real life spouse, I assume? A good start to portraying such a genuine, loving, onstage couple.) David Daoust (used to be Jones back in his BoarsHead days; I think I saw him as "the kid" Ellard in The Foreigner maybe 30-some years ago, and here he is playing a believable grandfather to a 29 year old - time does fly....) And Gloria Vivalda, lovingly force-feeding everyone, had the best of a fine set of New Jersey Italian accents - maybe because she really DID grow up in New Jersey.
Kudos to cast and crew and director Tony Caselli. The show continues through December 29.
www.williamstontheatre.com
It's a small theatre - so reservations are a good idea.
(517) 655-SHOW (7469)
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