"Over the Tavern" runs through May 18 at the Waukesha Civic Theatre.

Waukesha Civic Theatre ends its spectacular 2007-08 season with a family-oriented play that will appeal to everyone who has ever attended a Catholic school, who has ever been part of a family, and who would enjoy getting back in touch with the culture of the late 1950s. "Over the Tavern" by Tom Dudzick, sometimes called the Catholic Neil Simon, is a warm, funny play that ends up giving you more than a bundle of chuckles. It gifts us with many insights into life’s bumpy ride and how we are rewarded and punished for our efforts to be decent human beings.

All seven characters in the play are carefully delineated, including the nun, which is a surprise because they are so often drawn as caricatures. The story is largely told through the perspective of Rudy, a 12-year-old with an active, questioning mind, who challenges his family and his teachers to examine what they have been taught and not fall into a robotic acceptance of authoritarian views. A.J. Magoon is definitely the brightest star in this show among a galaxy of many.

His brother Georgie is well rendered by Logan Peaslee, who again does not present a caricature of the mentally handicapped. Eddie, played by Thomas Galindo, struggles with the challenge of hormonal changes and dealing with an erratic father. He presents a totally credible character, as does Jenny Kosek, the awkward teen who is trying to fit in and be attractive to somebody. The disclosive scene between her and her mother is very touching.

Ellen, the strong, practical, realistic, loving mom who holds the family together against all odds, is portrayed by Donna Daniels as a very believable, admirable woman who has no idea how much credit she really deserves. I’m sure she hit home with a lot of overworked, underappreciated moms in the audience. Her husband Chet, aced by Dan Hargarten, is a big, gruff guy with a strong sense of duty but lacking in the sensitivities that would flesh out his role as husband and father. He does have a heart, though, buried deep beneath his crusty, bellicose exterior, and we begin to understand over time why Ellen hangs in there with him.

Sister Clarissa, played by Inge Adams, turns out to be a human being after all, somewhat misguided, a victim of the very unquestioning compliance she is trying to foist upon Rudy. She is well played by Adams, as is her custom in all her roles.

Credit is due to Michael Talaska for his retro set, which, besides being very functional, brought back a ton of memories, to Nate Hankins for an especially good job of transitional, mood-setting music, and to Matt Carr and Patricia Fox Schindler for their work on lighting and costuming. A loud round of applause goes to Director Brian Zelinski, who is very adept at helping actors understand their characters and capturing the playwright’s flavor and intent. Excellent job, Brian.

The play runs through May 18. Go! You’ll love it. Call (262) 547-0708.