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Over The River And Through The Woods

A comedy by Joe Dipietro

Directed by Lynne Elton Smith.

Nick, 29 and single, still lives in Hoboken, N.J., where he grew up. His parents and sister have moved away, but every Sunday he dutifully shows up for dinner with his grandparents - Frank and Aida, Nunzio and Emma. One Thursday he shows up unexpectedly. He has news. He's been offered a promotion. Trouble is, it means he'll have to move to Seattle.

For his grandparents, good-hearted Italian-Americans who have worked all their lives providing for their family, moving for a job is incomprehensible. "Tengo famiglia!" as grandfather Frank is fond of saying. Family is the reason for living. For Nick, of course, it's different. "As any young man can tell you, the lure of a new life is as seductive as any lover," he muses to the audience. He expects them to lay on the guilt. They have something else in mind and conspire to introduce him to the pretty and single, Caitlin, niece of Emma's canasta partner.

Playwright Joe DiPietro captures the classic American dilemma - family vs. career, to stay or not to stay - in wonderfully funny fashion. You don't have to be Italian to fall in love with these grandparents who care for their grandson enough to meddle in his life. We can also understand Nick's frustration with them, while being miffed at him for not appreciating what he's got in four people who can't quite remember the rules to Trivial Pursuit or how to work the answering machine ("I threw it out," says Frank, "Every time we pressed a button someone was yelling at us.").

DiPietro has a real knack for writing true-to-life dialog that has the audience roaring with laughter one minute and crying the next. Audiences likely will leave the show hungry for more family time or, with all the references to food (from lasagne to cannolis and much more), just plain hungry. Long before the story's complete, we're more than willing to believe right along with Nick's grandmother Aida that good food cures all ("Nicholas, don't get upset," she says during a crisis. "I'll get a fruit bowl.").

Cast

Kathleen Davis Emma

Kathleen is a writer and musician who has lived in Evergreen for 37 years. She and husband John have done every job known to theater, and her years acting and directing were rewarded with the Distinguished Merit Medal of the Colorado Community Theater Coalition. Each Players production is an amazing lesson in dedication and creativity by the cast and crew family.

Dan Halliburton-Link Frank

This is Dan's first show with the Evergreen Players. He has enjoyed acting and directing in both stage and film/video productions. He lives in Evergreen with his wife and three children. Dan would like to publicly and profusely thank his wife, Holley, for taking over the lion's share of parenting so he could play.

Ted Jurasik Nunzio

Ted has been involved with community theater for more than 25 years as director, producer, stage manager, writer and actor. He is a past president of Evergreen Players and has appeared on stage locally in numerous roles for the Evergreen Players, Conifer Stage Door Theater and Evergreen Chorale. His local directorial credits include Pump Boys and Dinettes, State Fair and Broadway Bound. Ted lived in the Hoboken area in the late 70s - '80s, and he can easily slip back into his Jersey accent to prove it.

Gene Kato Nick

Gene is thrilled to be making his second appearance with the Evergreen Players. He was last seen in the musical The Boy Friend. Gene splits his time acting and directing. His directing credits include the musical Something's Afoot, Love's Tangled Web, Jake's Women and Prelude to a Kiss. He will direct the comedy Fuddy Meers at Red Rocks Community College in July. Gene wishes to send love out to his wife, Janelle, and dedicate his performance to the memory of his grandparents Norma and Erwin Impelmance who have recently passed on.

Brooke Kennell Caitlin

Brooke was raised in Colorado and is excited to make her debut here with the Evergreen Players. A graduate of Bethel College in Newton, KS, her latest credits are with The Beechwood Theatre Company in Newport, RI. Her favorite roles include Shen Te in Brecht's Good Woman of Setzuan, Dottie in Noises Off and the narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She thanks her family for their love and support.

Donna Worley Aida

Donna is thrilled to be in her first play since high school, however she has been active in musical theater for many years. She is thankful to her husband, PK., for his support; and to her director, Lynne Smith, for giving her this opportunity and for teaching her this fine art. Donna thanks God for her second chance.

Lynne Elton Smith Director

Lynne is directing her fourth show for the Evergreen Players. She hails from Michigan and has been directing plays for over 20 years in five different states. This will be Lynne's final show, at least for a while-she's moving to Louisiana. She wants to thank the Evergreen Players for opening their arms to her five years ago. They took her into their fold and allowed her to help create the magic. "To my cast and crew, my utmost, sincere thanks for making the vision come alive."

Kristin Andersen Assistant Director

Kristin is actually just masquerading as assistant director so she can hang around some really great people and help eat the props after each night's performance. She is immediate past president of the Evergreen Players and has recently begun attempting to fill Lynne Smith's shoes as administrator/business manager (an admittedly impossible task). She thanks Lynne for sharing her abundant talents with us on her way to warmer climes.

Production Crew

Images from Over The River And Through The Woods

Photography by Ellen Nelson and other volunteers.

Caitlin (Brooke Kennell) is invited to dinner to meet Nick (Gene Kato); "Thank you Aida, but I'm a vegetarian"

Nick (Gene Kato) confronts his grandparents with their failed matchmaking; "Did any of you take into consideration how your sneaky little plan... was infringing on my life?"

Frank (Dan Halliburton-Link) and Emma (Kathleen Davis) make a fuss over Nick (Gene Kato), recovering from his attack; "Don't do that to us again, Nicky. We're old, we're the ones supposed to get sick, not you"

Cast of 'Over The River'

Crew of 'Over The River'

Creating the set for 'Over The River'