Over the River and Through the Woods

Nick has been offered promotion to his dream job.  The only problem is, it’s in Seattle, far away from Hoboken, New Jersey and his two sets of loving grandparents. He will have to choose his moment carefully to break the news.

The play is set in the 1980’s when VCR’s and Answerphones are new on the scene and proving to be problematic and frustrating contraptions by some people of a certain age, while Trivial Pursuit is the must have board game of the moment. The decision that they should play this new fangled game proves to be absolutely hilarious, taxing the grandparents as they try to come up with the answers and reducing the audience to fits of laughter.  Oh, how I felt for them!

There are five main characters all of whom were on stage most of the time.

Heading up the cast was Jordyn Linklater who gave a terrific performance as Nick. Tony Saxby, originally the director, stepped in to fill the role of Frank, which he did admirably.  Aida, played by Susan Fitch-Bartlett is his loyal wife, living, she tells us, in the house her husband built for her over 60 years ago and where she intends staying.  Her Italian heritage had fostered in her a desire to feed everyone.  The fact that they may have just eaten is of no concern to her.  If she hasn’t fed them then they must be hungry. Brilliantly played.

Good performances also from Adam Thompson and Lynda Shelverton as Nick’s other grandparents, Nunzio and Emma.  They live nearby and when everyone is together Nick attempts to tell them of his imminent move; that is, when he eventually manages to get a word in.  The reaction is as he expected.  Having lived in the area all their lives, both sets of grandparents fail to understand why Nick would want to move way. They see this as a rejection of family life. With his parents having moved to Florida, apparently for the sun, they are determined to keep their grandson close to hand.

When grandmother Emma meets a ‘suitable’ young lady called Caitlin (nicely played by Alice Cooper) in the supermarket, she invites her to join the family for Sunday dinner.  Could she take Nick’s mind off of moving away? The ploy doesn’t work and the pressure on Nick results in him ending up in hospital, following a panic attack.

The set had been well designed with a large dining table and chairs.  Food seemed to be coming out from behind the beaded curtain which separated the dining/living room from the kitchen, throughout the show. I don’t think I have ever seen a more realistic dining scene on stage with cutlery clinking, and food being eaten.   Lounge furniture appeared to be of the period and scene changes were quick and slick.

Costumes appeared to be right for the eighties and the New Jersey accent was, for the most part, good.

And so the story moves along with the various characters stepping into the spotlight to keep the audience up to date with the storyline.  The ending was sad but inevitable, such is the circle of life.

This was a very well presented production which I really enjoyed.  Well done to Will Jamieson for stepping in at short notice to take over as Director and to everyone else involved.

Thank you for inviting me.

 

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