Over the River and Through the Woods

"This is a great show with a great cast!"--Mike Aronson.

What: Staged Play Reading of Joe DiPietro's off Broadway smash comedy "Over the River and Through the Woods."
When: Friday March 16, and Saturday March 17, 8:00 PM, 2001 (Two performances only) Where: Upstairs in the Majestic Theatre Community room
Tickets: $5 in advance at Rice's Pharmacy or call 754-8455
Read by: Jean Heath, Tom Walmsley, Dan Selivonchick, Jenalee Santos, Scott Eichner, Amaya Egusquiza, and Yvonne McCallister Directed by Mike Aronson

Corvallis Community Theatre revives a staged play reading of Joe DiPietro's off Broadway family comedy "Over the River and Through the Woods", Friday March 16th and Saturday March 17th. Both performances begin at 8:00 pm in The Majestic Theatre Community Room (upstairs).

The play reading is directed by Mike Aronson and read by Jean Heath, Tom Walmsley, Dan Selivonchick, Jenalee Santos, Scott Eichner, Amaya Egusquiza and Yvonne McCallister.

Scott Eichner plays Nick Cristano, a New York marketing executive, who has dinner with his four Italian grandparents in Hoboken, New Jersey every Sunday. His parents have retired and moved to Florida. His only sibling lives in California so his presence every week is particularly valued. Nick's maternal grandparents, the philosophical retired carpenter Frank (Dan Selivonchick) and Aida (Jenalee Santos) who solves every problem with food, are completely unflappable no matter what the situation. There are passionate fraternal grandparents too, ex-factory worker Nunzio (Tom Walmsley) and his adoring, busybody wife Emma (Jean Heath) who always speak their uncensored minds. When Nick, their only relative left in the area, announces that he has a promotion that will take him to Seattle, the grandparents feel betrayed. They have always lived a life where family comes first. Why should Nick leave them for just another job? The plot follows the grandparents' schemes as they try to convince Nick to stay in the east. For example, the next time Nick comes to dinner his grandparents introduce him to a "surprise" dinner guest, the lovely and single Caitlin O'Hare (Amaya Egusquiza). As Nick comes to recognize and understand the real and timeless people inside his "grandparents," his grandparents are confronted with a more complicated revelation. They've devoted much of themselves to providing Nick with a future life in a world they no longer understand, and are no longer a part of.

This makes "Over the River" a delightfully entertaining comedy about growing up and growing old. You don't have to be Italian to recognize the family members in this comedy. Every son and daughter who has ever taken that first long step away from home will relate and delight in the show's clever dialog. Every parent who has felt the grief of separation will sympathize. Every grandparent who wants to be respected for his or her knowledge and experience will nod knowingly.

All seats are $5. For reservations call 754-8455 (Jefferson Mint) or purchase tickets in advance at Rice's Pharmacy. Reader's Theater actors use scripts, a few props, some stage motions, and minimal costumes during the performance. Readings are generally staged in informal areas such as the new community room on the second floor of the Majestic Theatre. The challenge for the actors is to share with the audience the emotions felt by their characters using only their voices.