CSCT’s Latest Offering Is All About Family
September 28, 2016 at 6:41 p.m.
CSCT’s Latest Offering Is All About Family
By David [email protected]
Translated to English, it’s Italian for “I support my family,” but it means much more than financial support.
Center Street Community Theatre’s production of “Over the River and Through the Woods” looks at what all that encompasses through the eyes of the character Nick Cristano and his four grandparents.
The play is at the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Oct. 7 and 8; and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 9. Tickets are $12 at the box office.
Eric Totheroh plays Nick, a 29-year-old career-oriented man in New Jersey who has stayed in his hometown all his life. His grandparents also have lived in the same hometown since coming to America.
“He wants to move on, but doesn’t know if he can leave his grandparents,” Totheroh said before rehearsals Sunday.
Some of the tension in the play comes from the grandparents who conspire to get Nick to stay.
Lin Metzger plays Emma Cristano, one of Nick’s grandmothers.
“We’re an Italian family. Nick’s job is changing. He’s moving and we don’t want him to move,” Metzger said, adding that Emma is feisty and a doer.
While Totheroh has been in two previous Center Street Community Theatre productions, “Over the River” is Metzger’s first.
“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “Everyone’s so helpful and encouraging. It’s like a family. We are a family. (Director) Jennifer Shepherd is great.”
Nunzio Cristano, played by Curt Clevenger, 53, is Nick’s paternal grandfather and Emma’s husband.
“Nunzio is a little bit rough. He worked in a Ford plant 27 years,” Clevenger said, who said he likes to make up back stories for the roles he plays. “... He really loves his family. He’s a down-to-earth kind of guy.”
Clevenger said he figures Nunzio is about 73 or 75 and more laid back than Nick’s other grandfather, Frank, who is more stand-offish.
Gerald Cox, who directed the Community Theatre’s production of “M*A*S*H,” plays Frank Gianelli.
“He’s the oldest of the group. He is Nick’s mother’s father,” Cox said. “I was sent over to America by boat at 14 by my father. I am the patriarch and I built the house they live in.”
The whole theme of the play is “tango familia,” Cox said. “It all starts with me. I am supporting my family and taking care of my family.”
He said he could relate some to Frank, who is in his 80s.
“There are some points in this play that are poignant and hit home. I lost my father a year ago when I was directing ‘M*A*S*H.’ Frank’s father died in a fishing accident shortly after he sent me to America. He sent me away to have a better life than his was, but there is resentment there.”
He said a theme of the play is one generation wanting their children to have a better life than they had.
Playing Frank’s wife, Aida Gianelli, is Melissa Jordan.
“She is the cook of the family and has been the one to spend the most hands-on time with Nick, her grandson,” Jordan said. “She’s very nurturing toward him and making sure everyone is really comfortable, but food is her No. 1 comfort. She’s a genius Italian cook.”
Nick’s sister moved to San Diego, and his parents moved to Florida. Aida never thought Nick would leave until he says he’s going, Jordan said.
A possible love interest for Nick comes in the role of Caitlin O’Hare, a role shared by Staci Skiles Schaum and Rebecca Crim. Schaum plays Caitlin Oct. 1, 7 and 9, while Crim plays the role Sept. 30, Oct. 2 and 8.
“She’s a nurse by trade. She’s 28 to 31, Nick is 29. She has a desire for a relationship, but isn’t pro-active about it. She had a good relationship with her aunt. She’s open to inter-generational friendships,” Schaum said.
Nick’s grandparents have a dinner and invite Caitlin without asking Nick. During dinner, Caitlin sees how Nick treats his grandparents and doesn’t like it, Schaum said. In Act II, the audience learns more about Caitlin and her background.
“I do feel like (the play) has an intergenerational appeal and speaks to people of different generations. It makes valid points on life. It’s a story worth telling of the human experience,” Schaum said.
Madisson Heinl is the show’s assistant director. It’s her first time in that role, though she’s helped with shows in other various capacities and has acted on stage.
“It’s been an interesting experience to be on the director’s side of the show,” she said. “... I think it’s really interesting to watch actors explore real emotions and real relationships. Everyone is playing a different aged character than they’re really in. Actors have to be introspective of their characters. Everyone is drawing from their own personal experiences.”
Shepherd said she’s enjoying directing “Over the River.”
“When I was looking for a script, I saw this one and liked it. When I ordered it, it was on back order. I started reading it and couldn’t put it down. It’s funny, and at times it’s hilarious, but the end will be tearful,” Shepherd said.
“It’s an age-old story we want our children to do better than us. Then they go away, and while it’s our goal, that doesn’t always mean it’s better,”?she continued.
In directing the play, Shepherd said she thought about her own mother.
“She came to the U.S. from Germany. She ultimately returned for the last 35 years of her life. She wanted us and her grandkids to do better than she did. She was active and loved life,” she said. “(The play) hits home with a lot of people, and as we get older, you find yourself making sacrifices so your children can do better. It’s definitely about family.
“Tango familia means I support my family, and it’s more than financial support.”
“Over the River and Through the Woods” was written by Joe DiPietro and first presented in the mid-1990s.
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Translated to English, it’s Italian for “I support my family,” but it means much more than financial support.
Center Street Community Theatre’s production of “Over the River and Through the Woods” looks at what all that encompasses through the eyes of the character Nick Cristano and his four grandparents.
The play is at the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Oct. 7 and 8; and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 9. Tickets are $12 at the box office.
Eric Totheroh plays Nick, a 29-year-old career-oriented man in New Jersey who has stayed in his hometown all his life. His grandparents also have lived in the same hometown since coming to America.
“He wants to move on, but doesn’t know if he can leave his grandparents,” Totheroh said before rehearsals Sunday.
Some of the tension in the play comes from the grandparents who conspire to get Nick to stay.
Lin Metzger plays Emma Cristano, one of Nick’s grandmothers.
“We’re an Italian family. Nick’s job is changing. He’s moving and we don’t want him to move,” Metzger said, adding that Emma is feisty and a doer.
While Totheroh has been in two previous Center Street Community Theatre productions, “Over the River” is Metzger’s first.
“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “Everyone’s so helpful and encouraging. It’s like a family. We are a family. (Director) Jennifer Shepherd is great.”
Nunzio Cristano, played by Curt Clevenger, 53, is Nick’s paternal grandfather and Emma’s husband.
“Nunzio is a little bit rough. He worked in a Ford plant 27 years,” Clevenger said, who said he likes to make up back stories for the roles he plays. “... He really loves his family. He’s a down-to-earth kind of guy.”
Clevenger said he figures Nunzio is about 73 or 75 and more laid back than Nick’s other grandfather, Frank, who is more stand-offish.
Gerald Cox, who directed the Community Theatre’s production of “M*A*S*H,” plays Frank Gianelli.
“He’s the oldest of the group. He is Nick’s mother’s father,” Cox said. “I was sent over to America by boat at 14 by my father. I am the patriarch and I built the house they live in.”
The whole theme of the play is “tango familia,” Cox said. “It all starts with me. I am supporting my family and taking care of my family.”
He said he could relate some to Frank, who is in his 80s.
“There are some points in this play that are poignant and hit home. I lost my father a year ago when I was directing ‘M*A*S*H.’ Frank’s father died in a fishing accident shortly after he sent me to America. He sent me away to have a better life than his was, but there is resentment there.”
He said a theme of the play is one generation wanting their children to have a better life than they had.
Playing Frank’s wife, Aida Gianelli, is Melissa Jordan.
“She is the cook of the family and has been the one to spend the most hands-on time with Nick, her grandson,” Jordan said. “She’s very nurturing toward him and making sure everyone is really comfortable, but food is her No. 1 comfort. She’s a genius Italian cook.”
Nick’s sister moved to San Diego, and his parents moved to Florida. Aida never thought Nick would leave until he says he’s going, Jordan said.
A possible love interest for Nick comes in the role of Caitlin O’Hare, a role shared by Staci Skiles Schaum and Rebecca Crim. Schaum plays Caitlin Oct. 1, 7 and 9, while Crim plays the role Sept. 30, Oct. 2 and 8.
“She’s a nurse by trade. She’s 28 to 31, Nick is 29. She has a desire for a relationship, but isn’t pro-active about it. She had a good relationship with her aunt. She’s open to inter-generational friendships,” Schaum said.
Nick’s grandparents have a dinner and invite Caitlin without asking Nick. During dinner, Caitlin sees how Nick treats his grandparents and doesn’t like it, Schaum said. In Act II, the audience learns more about Caitlin and her background.
“I do feel like (the play) has an intergenerational appeal and speaks to people of different generations. It makes valid points on life. It’s a story worth telling of the human experience,” Schaum said.
Madisson Heinl is the show’s assistant director. It’s her first time in that role, though she’s helped with shows in other various capacities and has acted on stage.
“It’s been an interesting experience to be on the director’s side of the show,” she said. “... I think it’s really interesting to watch actors explore real emotions and real relationships. Everyone is playing a different aged character than they’re really in. Actors have to be introspective of their characters. Everyone is drawing from their own personal experiences.”
Shepherd said she’s enjoying directing “Over the River.”
“When I was looking for a script, I saw this one and liked it. When I ordered it, it was on back order. I started reading it and couldn’t put it down. It’s funny, and at times it’s hilarious, but the end will be tearful,” Shepherd said.
“It’s an age-old story we want our children to do better than us. Then they go away, and while it’s our goal, that doesn’t always mean it’s better,”?she continued.
In directing the play, Shepherd said she thought about her own mother.
“She came to the U.S. from Germany. She ultimately returned for the last 35 years of her life. She wanted us and her grandkids to do better than she did. She was active and loved life,” she said. “(The play) hits home with a lot of people, and as we get older, you find yourself making sacrifices so your children can do better. It’s definitely about family.
“Tango familia means I support my family, and it’s more than financial support.”
“Over the River and Through the Woods” was written by Joe DiPietro and first presented in the mid-1990s.
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