Friends and Neighbors

On Golden Pond is one of those plays you might call a “community theatre classic”.  It’s a weepy without being a downer, sentimental, but still funny, and includes among its cast both a grumpy old man and a sneaky, precocious teen. What more could you ask for?

The story, well worn and well-known, has the aged couple Norman Thayer, Jr and his wife Ethel come up to their summer home in rural Maine. Norman is the kind of of old man who constantly talks about his impending death while making it clear through his attitude that he has no intention of going too gentle into that good night. Ethel is sweeter and more grounded but (as can be best seen in a key scene involving their daughter Chelsea) far from a pushover. As is often the case with these sort of nostalgic trips, the couple reflect both on what’s changed and what’s stayed the same. Eventually they hear Chelsea is coming up to visit, giving a rare opportunity for a moment of connection between her and Norman before the end of what he seems convinced will he his final summer On Golden Pond.

The performances are the reason you come to see a show like this, and director  Andrea Anderson has assembled a wonderful cast of local talent. Blake Lubinis is a much younger actor than you’d expect to be cast as Norman Thayer, but he handles the part very well, making him the sort who isn’t playful in spite of his grouchiness, but playful by way of his grouchiness. He has a ton of fun needling people, and while you can definitely sense the moments when he might have went too far, you also can’t blame him for still being unabashedly himself. I was initially a little jarred by Blake’s ‘old man’ voice until I realized what it reminded me of – he sounds uncannily like James Stewart. Now I get to imagine a version of On Golden Pond with Jimmy Stewart in the lead, and that’s delightful.

Michelle McCaughtry as Ethel is perfectly cast, playing the part like the mother or grandmother you’ve always wanted. She’ll match Norman beat-for-beat while also serving as the ambassador of sorts between him and the rest of the world. This becomes particularly important when Chelsea (a wonderful Anne Freelove) comes, and you get the sense that as entertaining as Norman’s grouchiness might be for two hours on stage, being raised by that sort of personality could be rough. Their strained relationship is a tough sort of balancing act, as they know they both should love each other while also knowing Chelsea at least has very good reason for not liking Norman very much. Can you still love someone without liking them? Can he become her friend even though it might be too late to be her father? Lubinus and Freelove play out their dynamic wonderfully.

Also featured in the cast are Ryan Veith as the big-hearted but none-too-bright local mailman and Steven Palmer as Chelsea’s new boyfriend Bill, who below his polite exterior is fully capable of standing up to Norman (you get the sense in this production that that may he what attracted her to him in the first place). Then there’s Samuel Freelove as Bill’s son Billy, who quickly becomes an unlikely friend to Norman because like Norman he has no patience for niceties. Sam brings the exact right attitude for the part, playing him as a kid whose attitude serves as a shield that he can lower once he realizes there’s something more to the old man than he expected.

I was a little confused by the set at first – the huge projection screen felt out of place towering over the house interior. I got used to it eventually, especially once the lighting effects (technical direction by Rob Freelove) allowed it to more properly look like the ever-changing sky. Add to that the occasional calls of loons and other nature sounds and the mood is set very nicely throughout. The whole show is very nice – just a good piece of community theatre. It’s funny, sweet, and well-acted. The sort of show where anyone could come and have a good time, even an old grump like Norman Thayer, Jr.

On Golden Pond plays through January 18th at the CTC Center in Pillager