‘Over the River’ and on to the stage
Go “Over the River and Through the Woods," or maybe just along the coast, for the Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts’ latest production, opening this Friday, May 2.
Opening night is Gala Night, where each ticket holder receives one free beverage and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.
The touching family comedy is written by Joe DiPietro and directed by Berta Limbaugh.
Nick Cristano, played by Logen Steinbach, might be living the life of a modern young professional in New York City, but his loving grandparents never let him forget where he belongs: in New Jersey, in the bosom of his tenacious, tender-hearted, loud, loving and well-fed Italian-American grandparents. The grand-pairs live two doors down from each other in Hoboken, and lavish all of their affection on their last unmarried grandchild. Faithfully, Nick goes over the river every week for Sunday dinner. When he is offered an important promotion in Seattle, he threatens to break this routine by moving some 2,800 miles away.
Frank, played by Ellis Conklin, Aida, played by Patty Cook, Emma, played by Sylvia Johnson and Nunzio, played by Al Johnson, are heartbroken at the prospect of their beloved grandson raising a family all the way across the country — or worse, not raising a family at all. Besides the usual tactics of emotional blackmail, in order to keep him safe at home, these wily elders cook up a matchmaking scheme, inviting lovely nurse Caitlin O’Hare, played by Mackenzie Wingate, over for Sunday dinner. Will the prospect of true love keep Nick from moving across the country?
“Over the River and Through the Woods” is a warm-hearted, boisterously funny, and touching story about intergenerational relationships, deep familial love and the inevitable little heartbreaks that occur as time passes and children grow and is a beloved staple of theaters across the United States.
The play runs through May 18, with performances at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays at the Barn Community Playhouse, 1204 Ivy Avenue. For more information and tickets, go to tillamooktheater.com or call 503-812-0275.