By Carol Davis
SOLANA BEACH, California—-What a different a decade makes.
In Tom Dudzick’s Over the Tavern that took place in 1959 the age of innocence was on the wane, drive in movies, Dairy Queen (we still have one in my neighborhood) and the Ed Sullivan Show were the ‘talk of the town.’ Martin and Lewis, The Rat Pack, Buddy Holly and Elvis entertained and life in the playwright’s fast lane centered on his middle class, Catholic family and family life (as he remembered it) in the ‘50’s.
Things weren’t always wonderful for the growing Pazinski family, but humor, their religion and sheer fortitude got them through the rough times. The family consisted of Mom, Dad, three boys (one mentally challenged) and a sister. They lived in a house ‘over the tavern’ that was family owned and passed down from father to son.
Dudzick, who is both Catholic and Polish, oft called the Catholic Neil Simon, lists as his semi autobipgraphical/fictionl comedies “Over The Tavern”,” Hail Mary” and “Last Mass at St. Casmir’s”. We can now add a sequel to Over The Tavern, King O’ The Moon with his latest in the ever-growing vicissitudes of the Pazinski family ten years later.
Man was about to land on the moon; Vietnam was a gathering storm with protesters and protesting, the hippie movement, government conspiracies, long hair and peace symbols permeated the climate. It was the “Dawning of the age of Aquarius” It seemed anyone living through that time period was affected in one-way or another. Stuck in the middle of this social revolution the Pazinski family has matured and thanks to Dudzick we are able to catch up with them again.
This time though, instead of girlie magazines and stashing Twinkie wrappers into secret hiding places the adult Pazinski’s have to deal with divorce, anti war activities, draft evasion, newly found love, and with each other. Matt Thompson, who played Chet Pazinski, the now deceased family patriarch in “Over The Tavern”, directs this less than homogenized group of siblings with an eye for both the comedic effect and genuine caring.
Back in 1959 Rudy (Kevin Koppman-Gue) was just thirteen and wrestling with all the rules of the Catholic Church with which he had to abide. Now, ten years later, Rudy is studying for the priesthood and still doesn’t believe in hell. Older brother Eddie (Ross Hellwig) who used to sneak off to read girlie magazines is preparing to fight in Vietnam much to the chagrin of the peace marching/preaching Rudy. He’s married to Maureen (Sonny Smith) and they are expecting the next generation of Kazinski sooner rather that later.
Their sister Annie (Kyrsten Hafso) is suffering some depression from a lousy marriage to a guy who values his model trains more than his wife (she wants out) and Georgie (Julian Conrad) their mentally challenged brother to whom they are all devoted, still wins the trophy as the neatest guy in the family. Keeping it all together after the death of their Dad is Mom Ellen (Kandis Chappell). She has a secret love interest, long family friend Walter (John Herzog), who helps run the tavern and is almost a part of the family.
Two huge events are merging in the Pazinski world when the play opens; Apollo 11 is about to lift off with Neil Armstrong who will be the first man to walk on the moon and the family is gathering to hold their fifth annual memorial dinner to celebrate their late father’s life. At the dinner they will fill him in on what’s happened in the family over the past year.
Once again Dudzick takes the serious issues and changing time that the family is dealing with and wraps them in comedy. The now grown and growing family, adults all, is faced with a new set of social issues that have impacted their lives in many different and surprising ways and needless to say everyone has an opinion.
The TV is on the blink, Rudy and Eddie still fight over who did what when and why, secrets are revealed, customers are fighting in the tavern, the police are called, Rudy is AWOL from the seminary, Walter tip toes around Ellen, Georgie has a secret, Annie reveals why she’s so nasty toward Maureen and we almost lose a baby.
The play is so packed with stuff and so much of it is superficial that it’s refreshing when a serious issue about divorce and the church, peace protesters, going AWOL and politics evokes genuine emotional conflict. This is where the talented cast shines. No longer children to be hushed and sent to their rooms Ellen must be a good listener and referee.
Kandis Chappell, last seen in San Diego in Athol Fugard’s “Road To Mecca” last year is a welcome face again as the tough but loving mother holding her family together while keeping a secret from them. Chappell’s strong and unique voice resonates with the coolness needed to keep this burly family from killing each other yet being understanding of their individual needs. She succeeds on all fronts. Herzog’s Walter is quite touching as the romantic but transparent suitor. So… why not?
Kevin Koppman-Gue, another familiar face in the San Diego’s landscape, is perfectly suited as the run away seminarian looking to find his own place in a world he finds in conflict with his needs, beliefs and loyalties. His light hearted approach suites him well until he is put to the test by his sister’s demanding answers on his opinion on divorce. Koppman-Gue finds the right balance between the funny and the not so funny.
Kyrsten Hafso’s Annie tries to make the best of a bad situation with her marriage gone sour, but it takes too long with the running jokes about her train-loving husband for anyone to really notice that this woman is in trouble. And her immediate disdain for Maureen seems to come from out of the blue until we know why and then, excuse me; it’s back to sixth grade naner nanner.
Ross Hellwig looks the part of Eddie always ready to pick a fight but he isn’t really very interesting. It’s a good thing his wife Maureen has all the spunk and puck needed to put a little spice into their relationship. Sunny Smith is a hoot as the off the wall sister in law who just lets it flow out of her mouth as she thinks it. Sometimes it takes an outsider to bring the troops together. Julian Conrad’s Georgie is the most difficult role as the mentally challenged brother. He nails all the parts just right and in a way stabilizes the rest of his siblings with his childlike antics.
Marty Burnett’s set, as usual is perfect with a back yard, storage barn/tree house with the Pazinski living space just under the Tavern. Stuff from years ago, which was supposed to be a family cleanup project, is stored in bins, cans and baskets. Since I can’t remember anything but tie-dye shirts and long hair and Afro’s from those days, I’m assuming Valerie Henderson’s 1969 anything goes clothes are just fine. One lingering annoyance was the bad wig Kyrsten wore.
Chris Leussmann, who reproduced the sounds of the late ‘50’s in “Over The Tavern” is at it again with what sounded like actual recordings of the transmissions sent from Kennedy Space Center back to earth when there was ‘liftoff ‘ to landing to the first words spoke on the moon. Yes, I do remember exactly what I was doing then and where I was. Matt Novotny’s moon is wonderful as is Georgie’s proclaiming himself “King O’ The Moon”. And a good time was had by all.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: through May 8th
Organization: North Coast Repertory Theatre
Phone: 858-481-1055
Production Type: Comedy
Where: 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite D, Solana Beach, CA 92075
Ticket Prices: $37.00 to $41.00
Web: northcoastrep.org
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Davis is a San Digo-based theatre critic. She may be contacted at carol.davis@sdjewishworld.com