Mansfield Music and Arts Society presents The New England Repertory
Company's production of "On Golden Pond" which is the love story of 80 year
old Norman Thayer Jr. and his wife, Ethel. They are returning to their
summer home in Maine for their 48th year. It not only shows their
relationship but the plot also revolves around their 42 year old daughter,
Chelsea, her dentist fiancée, Bill, his smart mouth 13 year old son,
Billy and Charlie, the mailman who had a crush on Chelsea in high school.
Michael Duncan Smith makes his directorial debut with NERC and his cast does
an astounding job in their roles. Set designer Ken Butler creates a rustic
cabin set which looks realistic while Glenn Fournier did the artistic
painting of it and Rachel Parkman built an actual stone fireplace for the
show. Allen Conway is the stage manager while Alina Favazza handles the
lighting and Evan Myers handles the sound. The Black Box theatre has been
refurbished by Ken so that the sets can be larger and more elaborate. Kudos
on a well acted production.
Mike Kiernan tackles the role of Norman who is a lovable curmudgeon. He
does a wonderful job with his many one liners with some of the funniest
scenes being his arguments with Ethel, his learning of Billy's slang phrases
and the illicit sex talk with Bill. Beth Goldman is excellent as Norman's
loving and doting wife. She is superb in both the comic and dramatic moments
of the show. Beth has many comic sparring scenes with Mike but the two
dramatic scenes are topnotch, too. The argument scene with Chelsea is
electrifying and the final scene where she thinks her "old poop" is dying is
poignant, too. The couple's estranged daughter, Chelsea is splendidly played
by Lynn Atkins-Latham. Her argument scene with Beth is fantastic and the
camp song scene with Beth lightens the mood of the show to show the
closeness of mother and daughter. Lynn's tearful moments show the emotions
of a woman who has grown up with a cold distant father who also wanted a
son, but they finally reconcile with each other at this late moment in his
life.
Brian Kelly plays Chelsea's boyfriend, Bill. Although he is only in one
scene in this show, Brian does a wonderful job in this role especially when
he tells the old man that he and Chelsea will be sleeping together finally
standing up to the barbs that Norman flings at him. The smart aleck kid,
Billy is excellently played by Petr Favazza. He delivers his comic lines
beautifully especially in the bullshitting scenes, the cruising the chicks
and suck face segments and in the fishing scene where he hides under the
table and imitates a loon. The final member of this cast who plays Charlie,
the befuddled and constantly laughing mailman is Jim Martin. The character
loves to eat Ethel's muffins, drink coffee and still has a crush on Chelsea
after all these years. Jim's last role was as Charles in "Blithe Spirit"
where he had over 700 lines. So for a trip to Maine with some hilarious and
poignant moments along the way, be sure to catch "On Golden Pond".
ON GOLDEN POND ( 6 - 16 September, 2007)
MMAS & New England Repertory Company, 30 Crocker Street, Mansfield, MA
1 (508) 339-2822 or www.mmas.org
