By Lisa Panzer
Join in on an uproariously fun road trip with heart, as siblings Lee (Jessie Demmert) and Joey (John Parkinson) transport their father’s ashes from Dayton to a ‘meaningful’ location – a certain Wawa parking lot in Philadelphia. It was Lee’s idea to abscond with their Dad’s funeral urn and run away to Philly. Her brother Joey more or less agreed to accompany her as long as they stopped for snacks. Lots of snacks! Along the highway they encounter the wildest characters and situations: a soda cave troll and a showdown at Sheetz, Dungeons and Dragons, a moony patrolman who adopts socks lost along the road, a turnpike ghost, tunnel wizards and more – all very surreal, but none so nuts as the talking Wawa hoagie. It’s quite a whirlwind experience.
Taron Goldsboro with a Wawa Hoagie.
However, amongst the far-out happenings along the way to Philly lies a core of sadness and loss, but also discovery and hope. Though Lee, being the elder of the two knew their Dad for longer and Joey’s memories are more scant, they are both handling their grief in their own way. Joey has a history of deferring but is beginning to feel resentful and maybe wants to do things his way for once. At one point as Joey has taken over the driving from Lee and is internally battling whether to turn the car around or not and does so several times as though he feels like his life is spinning out of control (while his green glittery caped imaginary childhood friend attempts to steer from behind). Lee is super driven to get to Philly led by her reminiscences of better days with Dad, her need to somehow reconnoiter that then with now, and is a bit disappointed that her brother can’t remember those early times very well. On the way to Philadelphia, the ‘city of filial love’, brother and sister face the challenges of a new relational horizon.
Taron Goldsboro, John Parkinson, Susan Bolt and John McGarry in a scene from “Operation Wawa Road Trip”.
Director Sean McDermott has assembled a super talented ensemble including Susan Bolt, Taron Goldsboro, Lauren Kirchner and John McGarry who deftly portray a delightfully crazy range of characters, seamlessly changing roles with pluck and sparkle. Jessie Demmert and John Parkinson rock as siblings, making it real and are a blast to watch as they handle whatever radical absurdity crossing their paths.
Heather Timberman’s lighting design nicely augments each scene and segue, aligning well with the creativity of Matt and Sabrina Boyd-Surka’s sound and Mike Sokolowski’ set design and Ally Duvak’s cool costuming. Kudos to Props Designer Maddy Larkin (that ‘hoagie’!) and Stage Manager Katherine Coogan for keeping a complex production together backstage.
“Wawa Road Trip” is not only a super entertaining far-out ride, but also a journey of the heart and soul for two siblings who have lost their father, but who find themselves, and each other – anew, forging a fresh legacy.
If You Go:
“Operation Wawa Road Trip” by Caitlin Corkery
Directed by Sean McDermott
Nov.17 – Dec. 21
Friday & Saturday performances are at 8 PM; Sunday, 11/26 performance is at 2 PM.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-328-4271, in person at the box office, or online at https://pcstheater.org/second-stage/operation-wawa-road-trip/
Players Club of Swarthmore (PCS) is located at 614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore, PA 190181