By Rikki Lee Travolta
There isn’t a plethora of great roles for actors over “a certain age”, at least not in comparison to the number of roles for performers in their 20’s and 30’s.
“On Golden Pond” is a beautifully written, very poignant drama that features two wonderful senior roles. The play is about Norman Thayer Jr., a man in his late 70’s, and his wife Ethel, herself in her late 60’s, caring for the teenage son of their daughter’s fiancée’ at their summer cottage over the summer. The cottage is located, as one might guess, on Golden Pond.
The play deals with a lot of serious subjects, but does so with gentleness and a respectful sense of humor. Norman and Ethel’s daughter, Chelsea has a very jaded memory of her upbringing. She still harbors a great deal of resentment for her father’s bullying of her, and her mother’s failure to stand up for her.
The play was first produced on Broadway in 1979 and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. It has since had several revivals, including one with an all African-American cast featuring James Earl Jones as Norman. Other actors to play the aging man include Tom Aldredge on Broadway, Tom Bosley on tour, Jack Klugman on tour, and Christopher Plummer on television (opposite Julie Andrews).
The most famous portrayal of Norman belongs to Henry Fonda who won an Academy Award for the 1981 film adaptation. Katherine Hepburn won the Academy Award for Best Actress as Ethel and Jane Fonda was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress award for playing Chelsea opposite her real-life father.
Playwright Ernest Thomson did the screenplay adaptation of his own work, resulting not only in awards for Fonda and Hepburn, but also for Best Screenplay. His adaptation was very faithful to the play.
The Henry Fonda film was my first exposure to “On Golden Pond.” Even at a young age, I fell in love with the touching story about two elderly people coming to grips with age. When Ethel refers to herself and Norman as middle-aged, her husband has to point out to her that life expectancy isn’t 150 years. Like it or not, they are on the downward path of their lives.
The cast also includes teenaged Billy Ray Jr., his father Bill Ray Sr. who is engaged to Chelsea, and the local mailman Charlie. There is also a voice role of a telephone operator.
There is a lot of meaty material in these characters for actors to explore and develop. When that kind of diligence is employed, it can result in some incredible performances. Put a few high-quality actors together in the show and be prepared for a powerful piece of entertainment.
There is a lot stirring in the “On Golden Pond” emotional pot:
- Chelsea has issues with both her parents.
- Billy Ray’s mother doesn’t want him and now his father has dumped him off on strangers for the summer. As a result, he has a lot of walls up and can be very defensive.
- Norman and Ethel must face the uncertainty of the twilight of their lives, including dealing with the very real fact that Norman is losing his memory. That is a hugely scary thing to live with as you realize your brain is atrophying and there is nothing you can do about it.
MadKap Productions and Skokie Theatre are now presenting the masterful “On Golden Pond” through February 25, 2024. The company has a strong track record of success, particularly in productions helmed by Skokie Theatre’s managing director Wayne Mell.
For this production, Mell has recruited the real-life couple of Bernie Rice and Judy Rossignuolo-Rice to play Norman and Ethel. The duo both have long resumes of professional credits including stage, television, and film. Their resumes seem tailor-made for preparing them to co-star in this title together, and when they are on stage you can see their elation over performing together.
The interactions of an old married couple are beautifully reflected in the words of Erenest Thomson. They leap off the page as simply as if they were being read aloud. Rossignuolo-Rice gives her Ethel a touch of city toughness, while her husband gives the character of Norman a very relaxed, affable nature.
The play isn’t just about the relationship between Norman and Ethel, it is also about their relationship with their daughter Chelsea, and their newfound relationship with a young person. As anyone with grandchildren will tell you, there is almost always a big learning curve when it comes to understanding the next generation.
Ari Magsino and AJ Carchi alternate performances as young Billy Ray. On the night of review, Magsino turned in a solid performance as the kid who would much rather pick up chicks and “suck face” than hang out with old people in the woods.
While Billy Ray is initially resistant to Norman and Ethel’s interests in him, he grows to love them over the summer – and they him. In particular, Billy Ray bonds with Norman, going on daily fishing trips on the lake. Ethel finds her way into his heart via Tollhouse cookies.
Karen Louise Doerfler makes a strong showing as Norman and Ethel’s daughter Chelsea. Doerfler shows Chelsea’s insecurities around and because of her parents. Her father always teased her about her weight growing up. Words can hurt, even when meant jokingly. Doerfler’s Chelsea shows the long-lasting wounds such words can cause.
Rounding out the cast are a few more supporting characters. Peter Goldsmith is believable and appropriately humorous as the local mailman Charlie. He grew up with Chelsea and still harbors some feelings for her. But he is a kindly man with good intentions. He is not jealous that he didn’t end up with Chelsea, but there is a slight element of disappointment.
Victor Polites plays Bill Ray, Sr. He doesn’t have as much text to work with, but the role requires the actor to come across as a good guy who is slightly overwhelmed with juggling a fiancée and a teenage son. Polites easily accomplishes this in his time on stage.
The play begins with a very effective lighting display by Pat Henderson, opening the story on at sunrise following a storm. The lights and accompanying sound effects perfectly set the stage for the night’s entertainment. Henderson shows a great talent for using lights throughout the performance to accentuate the action on stage.
In addition to directing the production, Mell also served as set designer, then built by Scott Richardson and Brian Wasserman. Barry Norton provides his customary detailed set decoration.
Wendy Kaplan, the theatre’s artistic director, serves as costume designer. The costumes are simple and effective. Patti Halajian, who won the 2023 Heartstrings Award for costuming for her work with Skokie Theatre’s “Book of Merman”, serves as wardrobe mistress.
A director and his staff can do all the work possible to get a production ready to open, but once it’s time for the curtain to rise on opening night, the show belongs to the stage manager. It is their job to ensure everything runs smoothly and according to plan. Ayla Sweet does a fine job stage managing the show while also serving as the voice of the telephone operator.
Other staff to acknowledge include master electrician Michael Dwiggins; social media director Kay Rollinson; and house management’s Maddy Shilts, Kaitlyn Rodriguez, and Matty Eshaya. Ushers are representatives of The Saints Organization – a lovely assembly of theatergoers who support many of the top theaters in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
“On Golden Pond” is a classic. It is a play that can stir emotions in just about anyone – from teens to seniors. The cast of the Skokie Theatre production have clearly thrown themselves into their work – especially Judy Rossignuolo-Rice and Bernie Rice.
When you are young and you get to perform opposite someone you are involved with in real life, it can be thrilling. When you have reached a more mature stage in life, the opportunity to perform opposite your significant other is enjoyed as a blessing. It’s not something that you take for granted. Every performance together at that stage is a special experience to be treasured.
I’m a big fan of Skokie Theatre. They may not have million-dollar budgets, but they put on quality work and do an excellent job selecting seasons that offer a mix of new and classic material. In March they present “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”- which won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2015.
For now, though, all focus should be on Skokie Theatre’s current heartwarming production of “On Golden Pond.” It has the potential to touch every heart in the audience.
“On Golden Pond” plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. There is a special Wednesday matinee at 1:30 PM on February 21.
Skokie Theatre is located at 7924 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie. It is convenient to both the city and suburbs. The space is absolutely lovely and there is not a bad seat in the house. It is clean and comfortable, with a fabulous house staff who will make sure you have a great time.
For tickets visit www.SkokieTheatre.org or call (847) 677-7761.
Photo credit: MadKap Productions
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