By Betty Lou Roselle
Colonial Playhouse is currently offering A.R. Gurney’s The Dining Room through February 11. The play is entirely set in one dining room in the house of a typical upscale New England family, offering a mosaic of interrelated and often overlapping scenes, some funny, some touching, some savagely satiric. I’ve seen this play a few times before but never enjoyed it as much I did on Sunday afternoon.
Prepare to be entertained.
Besides directing, Maurizio Giammarco is also peppered throughout the production staff in the program. When you have someone with that kind of passion for a project it always shows. Nine actors and actresses bring a number of scenes to life, each playing more than a few different characters.
Director Giammarco is a maestro as he choreographs the flow of actors in and out effortlessly. And his entire cast is so talented. What a treat to watch a cohesive group playing so well off of each other. There is not one weak link.
Local playwright Rob Carroll is exceptional in his many roles. I hope we don’t have to wait another 25 years before he decides to tread the boards again.
Cathy Fallon is always a joy to watch. Be prepared to laugh hysterically throughout her scene as Aunt Harriet. Charles Hoffman joins her as a nephew writing a paper for a college class. Hoffman as well as Jim Golden are great in their many parts.
Ally Batot and Meghan Hanson play the younger children full of fun. Then in a blink of an eye they are worldly young women. Well done!
Jim Hulme is wonderful as a wealthy grandfather who enjoys preaching to his grandson about the value of hard work while the child fidgets.
Peggy Oleynick is spot on in all her many roles and Liz Girshick McCallum turns in her best performance ever.
There are six performances left: Feb. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. Shake off those winter blues, get out and enjoy this excellent production.
Colonial Playhouse is at 522 West Magnolia Ave., Aldan, PA. Call 610-622-5773 or visit www.colonialplayhouse.net