 |
|
"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.