LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Over the River and Through the Woods |
A Review by Bryon Predika |
New York has a new "off-Broadway" area. For the last couple of years, small treasures have been playing in a group of theatres on West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th avenues. Named for theatrical luminaries, this area hosts "smaller" plays plays that would be lost in the vast barns now needed for dancing chandeliers, singing cats and the like. One such "small" play is receiving renewed interest from the addition of Kaye Ballard to the cast. I place "small" in quotes, because the only thing small about this play is the theatre. Over The River is a joy and a delight. Written by Joe DePietro and directed with a sure hand by Joel Bishoff, this charming evening will make you laugh, sigh, cry and guffaw. It is basically the story of a young man's career move which means he has to move away from both sets of his grandparents. This is a play? Yes! These grandparents are Italian, and as all grandparents do, they eat. And cook. But with a change of menu, these ethnic darlings could be Irish, or Jewish or any ethnic group who is maybe the first generation in the country, and who still cling to the old ways and the family. Kaye Ballard is the soul and essence of Italian. In a beautifully underplayed performance, Miss Ballard cooks and cleans, grumbles and emits great waves of love. Her husband, (I almost said "long-suffering" husband, but with this foursome, all are long suffering, all deserve medals for staying the course) played by Ralph Lucarelli is retired, and longs to play his mandolin. The other grandparentsand in real life this does happengenuinely like each other and the other set of folks. Marie Lillo is just right as she gives us a grandmother who is perhaps just a little too louda little too gauche, but never over the line. Allen Swift is a perfect gnome of a grandparent. These are people you know and love. People you trust and want to honor and obey, but not necessarily live with forever and that is the problem of their grandsonhis parents their childrenpassed away leaving him the descendant of choice. Paul Urcioli and Heather Raffo are the young people who may or may not live through several dinners with all the grandparents. I am from this tradition. My grandmother would set me up with all kinds of hints and suggestions as to who I should date. Until I started dating them. Then it was "Katie bar the door!" And the poor girl was knocked around (in the nicest possible way) in my Grandmother's estimation, until we stopped dating. Mr. DePietro has written a charming, funny, warm play full of human spirit and kindness. Mr. Bishoff has directed a flawless cast with panache and wit. Now all we need is for you, on your next trip to New York, to bypass some of the flying helicopters and stilt-walking giraffes to spend some time with some lovely loving and all too human peoplethe cast of Over The River. Be prepared to laugh a lot and even cry a little. The play runs Monday-Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2:30, Sunday at 3 and 7:30 p.m. at the John Housemann Theatre, 450 W. 42nd Street. For tickets call 212-239-6200. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 11, Aug. 13, 1999 |