The Santa Maria Civic Theatre is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to providing the Santa Maria Valley with live theater in an intimate setting. Currently celebrating its 53rd season, the cast and crew are presenting a production of Over the River and Through the Woods for the holiday season.
As the classic Lydia Maria Child poem goes: “Over the river, and through the wood, to Grandfather’s (or Grandmother’s) house we go;” the story takes place entirely at the house of grandparents Aida and Frank (portrayed by Cathy DeLaurentis and John Shade).
Grandson Nick, being played alternately by Ian Freckleton and Wesley Kossuth, meets at his grandparents’ house every Sunday to visit with not just his mother’s parents, but his father’s parents as well, who live just down the street. Grandparents Emma and Ninazio (Valerie Pallai and Bob Larson) join the story not long after Nick arrives.
But it’s not Sunday, and Nick has called his grandparents together to make an announcement, a simple feat that nonetheless proves difficult for him. The grandparents live in New Jersey, and all of them are first-generation Italian immigrants who came to America to provide a better life for their children. Nick’s parents have already retired to Florida (a move scoffed at by his grandparents), and his sister moved out to San Diego after getting married, so suffice to say Nick is the only family his grandparents have left in the area.
Once all four grandparents get settled in, their chemistry starts swirling. Nick can hardly get a word out without grandma Aida trying to provide food for the occasion. Grandpa Frank keeps relating stories of the old country, and Grandpa Ninazio and Grandma Emma keep asking Nick when he’ll get married and have great grandchildren for them to enjoy. The quartet of veteran actors provides a hilarious din of questions and advice that keeps Nick in an annoyed dither until he can finally get out his announcement: “I’ve been offered a promotion,” he says. “A promotion in Seattle.”
It isn’t long before his grandparents remember where Seattle is and realize they’re going to lose their last remaining family member to miles and miles of distance. As soon as Nick is gone, the four elders quickly begin plotting a way to keep their beloved grandson in the vicinity. When Nick shows up for the usual Sunday dinner rendezvous, his grandparents have invited a surprise guest. Caitlin, played alternately by Sydney Asencio and Trist Ochoe, is a young, single nurse who’s an obvious set up by Nick’s grandparents.
Things quickly go haywire as Nick’s grandparents start embarrassing and frustrating him in front of the young woman. But for all Nick’s frustration, Caitlin can’t help but enjoy them.
“I enjoy passionate people,” she says cheerfully.
“You hear that?” Grandpa Ninazio says to Nick. “We’re not loud, we’re passionate!”
The script for Over the River and Through the Woods was written by Joe DePietro, known for such plays as I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!. An off-Broadway play, the story hums with an undercurrent familial love, respect, and commitment.
“Tengo familia!” grandpa Frank often proclaims. It means more than just “I have a family,” Frank explains, but “I am a man, I have a family, I have a reason for living!”
But at the same time, the story includes a coming-of-age element; Nick must decide between his financial and professional future and being close to his family.
Directed by Stewart Wenger, the play keeps a sense of movement despite the fact that the location never changes. The use of inner monologue gives a sense of not just the characters’ interaction, but their hidden feelings and secrets. It’s almost like staring into a fishbowl and the life of a real family struggling with change.
The plot and progression of the story make for a real holiday-themed experience. The story may not be set in the actual holiday season, but it will remind you of what you’re thankful for—and besides, tickets to the theater always make a great gift.
Arts Editor Joe Payne gathers at the river. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 22-29, 2012.