‘On Golden Pond’ plays at West End
“On Golden Pond” is a classic American comedic drama that’s every bit as touching, warm and witty today as when it debuted off Broadway in 1978.
Retired couple Ethel and Norman Thayer are spending their 48th summer at their vacation home on Golden Pond, in the woods of Maine. Their delightful summer routine —fishing, picking strawberries, enjoying old mementoes, listening to the loons call — is given a bitterly comedic edge by Norman’s unreliable memory and cantankerously morbid statements.
When their daughter Chelsea visits for Norman’s 80th birthday, bringing her boyfriend Bill and Bill’s teenage son, Billy Jr., the whole family must come to grips with Norman and Chelsea’s mutual bitterness, while Norman blossoms with his chance to mentor young Billy.
The turbulent relationship between father and daughter, the generation gap between young and old, and the difficulties of a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage, all combine in a play that effortlessly illustrates the hilarious, heartbreaking, human moments of which life is made.
Director Edie O’Connor says, “The subject matter is funny and yet so very touching.” She reminisces how “during rehearsals it was not unusual to find us all laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. Scott Corey as Norman, and Tina Thorman as Ethel are fairly new to theatre and are perfect in their portrayals of Norman and Ethel. Bob McGill as Charlie, Samantha Williams as Chelsea, Joe Hoffman as Bill, and Mason Thorman as Billy Ray all do a splendid job of embracing their characters to tell this touching story.”
“On Golden Pond” is the first play of dramaworks 2019-2020 season. It is not too late to get season tickets.
The play will run Friday through Sunday, Sept. 27-29, and Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 3-6, at the West End Theatre, on the corner of Crescent and Main streets in Quincy. The Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7 p.m. The Sunday shows begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Quincy Provisions, Quintopia and westendtheatre.us.
Drama instructor and West End Theatre Manager Danielle Wagner Plocki said, “Our goal at dramaworks is to enrich our community through the theatrical arts. Season ticket subscribers and donors are paramount in helping us maintain a sustainable operational level for The West End Theatre. Your generous support allows us to continue to provide an artistic home for adventurous performances, significant works of literature, plays, musicals and opportunities for creative growth and enrichment for our youth programs.”
Visit westendtheatre.us for more information, to subscribe or to donate.
