Thursday,
November 08,
"Over the River and Through the Woods" : Nice Italian American Theatre
The
ANNOTICO Report
Maybe a Movie????
Four
Italian grandparents try to stop their grandson, Nick, from accepting a job
promotion taking him from
Yes
it must throw in a few of the acceptable stereotypes, BUT "Over the
River" tackles big ideas that have no neat resolution while offering big
laughs as well.
Stage review East:
'Over the River' Rises
Above Sitcom Premise, Stereotypes
By
Kate Luce Angell
Thursday,
November 08, 2007
Before seeing
McKeesport Little Theatre's production of Joe DiPietro's
"Over the River and Through the Woods," I'll admit it didn't sound
like much more than a good sitcom episode: Four Italian grandparents try to
stop their grandson, Nick, from accepting a job promotion that would take him
from Hoboken to (horrors!)
But as any
grandparent can tell you, experience is a great teacher. Yes, they sing
"That's Amore!", overfeed their grandson and
comically bemoan his single state. But "Over the River" tackles big
ideas that have no neat resolution while offering big laughs as well.
Many of the
show's best moments belong to Jack Goodstein's character Frank Gianelli, as when he reflects on his hard-bitten childhood
in
While it's a
pleasure to watch Mr. Goodstein work, it's an even greater pleasure to watch
him in his scenes with Nick, played by Thomas A. Kolos,
Jr. Their relationship is the play's backbone, and this production owes a good
measure of its success to these two actors.
Mr. Kolos lends charisma and professional polish to the role of
Nick, and although it would be easy to either over- or underplay Nick's
selfishness, Mr. Kolos avoids these pitfalls, keeping Nick nice, but not too nice.
Jeane Fiore and Gus Melis have a lovely chemistry as Emma and Nunzio Cristano, and the secret Nunzio carries to the end is one element that causes
"Over the River" to rise above television-style comedy. Ms. Fiore
hesitates at times, but says "Shut up!" with wonderful conviction, as
well as having the most believeable accent in the
cast.
...Penne Steiger ...gamely essays Aida Gianelli's
jack-in-the-box attentiveness, but she stretches credibility as an Italian
immigrant who never finished grammar school.
Anna Marie Colecchi, as Nick's love interest, Caitlin O'Hare...
delivers her lines with sensitivity.
Director Chuck Penick keeps his actors moving but gives the audience time
to reflect when the going gets tough.
And it does,
because the clash of youthful ambition and love for home and family makes
for painful compromise all around. Nick asks, "How do you repay
devotion?" As "Over the River" shows, you can't put a
price on your family's love, since it's the foundation that makes your
future success possible.
"Over the
River and Through the Woods" continues through Nov. 18 at McKeesport
Little Theatre. Call 412-673-1100.
Kate
Luce Angell is a freelance writer.
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