Mill River Players current show is Tuesdays With Morrie" based on a true
story by Mitch Albom and is the area debut of this show. The play is about
1979 Brandeis graduate Mitch Albom reconnecting with his Sociology professor
Morrie Schwartz sixteen years later in 1995 when Mitch sees his old
professor on Nightline with Ted Koppel. What Mitch learns from Morrie is
that everything in life matters. Morrie is dying of ALS , Lou Gehrig's
disease but instead of pitying himself, he shares everything that is
important to him until the very last moment. Knowing that he was dying,
Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday in the last months of
his life, just like they used to back in college. Their rekindled
relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in how to live. When
Mitch finally visits Morrie, he is an award-winning sports columnist with
the Detroit Free Press. He started out to be a jazz pianist but the death of
his musical mentor, Uncle Mike at the age of 42 made him give up music and
become a journalist. Morrie teaches Mitch his philosophies on life, dying,
communication, money, happiness, family, marriage, love and friends. He
teaches Mitch how to express his feelings again after bottling them up
inside, "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love,
and to let it come in." This powerful and moving play is given an excellent
rendition at Mill River Players. Director Chuck PetitBon casts superb actors
in these two roles and they capture your hearts with their comic and
dramatic dialogue, leaving you in tears at the close of the show. Its reward
is a very well deserved standing ovation by the sobbing crowd.
Both actors are dynamite in their roles. Richard Wilber as
Morrie captures the essence of this tragic figure and infuses him with the
wit, humor and topnotch acting ability needed. His wonderful Jewish accent
and his tremors as the fatally ill man are splendidly done. This is one of
the best roles I have ever seen Richard in. Chris Gaulin as Mitch is
outstanding. He also narrates the show at times, too. He goes from showing
Mitch during college to his later years as a sportswriter and how he has
changed after losing his uncle to cancer. Mitch is embittered at this point
but Morrie changes his way of life by admitting his love for his student and
telling him to never be afraid to show another person you love them. Chris'
transition from bitterness to love is fantastically portrayed and his tears
at this moment in the show will definitely tug at your heartstrings, making
you cry along with him. Bravo to Richard and Chris on a job very well done.
A word of praise to Chuck who not only directs the show but also cooks the
fabulous before show meal at this dinner theatre. With several to choose
from, I chose the pork tenderloin with brown gravy, cornbread and cranberry
stuffing, applesauce, string beans and carrots, oven roasted plain and sweet
potatoes with Italian seasoning plus all you can eat Chicken Vegetable Soup
and Corn Chowder as well as freshly baked Italian bread. After dinner
dessert is an apple turnover with caramel sauce and coffee or tea. So for a
touching and sentimental evening of an excellent play and fantastic before
the show dinner, be sure to catch "Tuesdays with Morrie" at Mill River
Players before time runs out. You will be glad you did.
Tuesdays with Morrie ( 23 September -22 October, 2006)
Mill River Players, 499 High Street, Central Falls, RI
1 (401) 721-0909 or
www.millrivertheater.com
