Fort Worth - When
Theatre Three staged the North Texas premiere of Joe DiPietro's Over
the River and Through the Woods in October, one couldn't help but
think that this was yet another derivative comedy.
In his opening speech, Nick (Ric Leal) has a line that's a
blatant rip-off of Neil Simon: Nick refers to the heat as being
"August-in-Ethiopia hot"; in Simon's Biloxi Blues, written a decade
before River, Eugene calls it "Africa hot."
But while River is indeed derivative and an unabashed
crowd-pleaser, it's also funnier and more poignant than many of
Simon's plays.
Circle Theatre's production, which uses three of the actors from
Theatre Three's staging, highlights this fact effortlessly. Credit
René Moreno's skilled direction.
Maybe it's because these three actors (Barbara Bierbrier, Hugh
Feagin and Ada Lynn) have had time to let it sit and return
refreshed. Whatever it is, the cast turns in super ensemble work.
Nick is the grandson of Emma (Bierbrier), Nunzio (Feagin), Aida
(Lynn) and Frank (Richard Zavaglia), Italian-American New Yorkers
who love Nick more than life itself.
But when Nick announces that he might accept a promotion that
would relocate him to Seattle, the grandparents devise a scheme to
keep him in New York. Enter Caitlin (Heather Child), a girl they
invite to dinner in hopes Nick will fall madly in love with her and
stay in the East.
Leal is charming and funny, and his internal tug of war over his
impending decision comes across clear and honest. Child is, once
again, breathtakingly natural and grounded.
But this show belongs to the grandparents, and the extraordinary
talents of all four of those actors shine through. Newcomer Zavaglia
has a little bit of catching up to do, and, casting-wise, he's so
much younger than Lynn that their marriage seems unlikely, but
that's a minor complaint. Feagin, in particular, gives a beautifully
touching performance.
Clare Floyd DeVries' detailed set opens up Circle's small space
magnificently.
This is one trip worth taking.
Mark Lowry, (817) 390-7747 markl@star-telegram.com
Over the River and Through the Woods
Through Sept. 7; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 4 and 8:30 p.m.
Saturdays, at Circle Theatre, 230 W. Fourth St., Fort Worth
Tickets: $15-$25
Call: (817) 877-3040
www.circletheatre.com
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