Life with Father: Playshop builds a family on stage
Sunday, 08 January 2012 12:00
Rich Mancini, director of The Wilton Playshop’s next production, Life with Father,
reviews a section of the script with students who turned out to audition for parts
of the four sons and a young lady named Mary. Mr. Mancini said all of them had
considerable theatrical experience and he was lucky to have such a talented pool
from which to choose. —Bryan Haeffele photo
reviews a section of the script with students who turned out to audition for parts
of the four sons and a young lady named Mary. Mr. Mancini said all of them had
considerable theatrical experience and he was lucky to have such a talented pool
from which to choose. —Bryan Haeffele photo
We all probably know someone like Clarence Day Sr. — a family patriarch not easy to please, but ultimately with his family’s best interest at heart. He is the “father” in the play Life with Father, and it doesn’t matter that it was set more than 100 years ago. The dialogue is still crisp, the humor is still funny, and the essence of family life hasn’t changed all that much.
Life with Father is The Wilton Playshop’s selection for its winter presentation, with performances Feb. 10, 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18. (All shows will be at 8 p.m., except for Sunday matinees at 2.)
The play is based on a book by Clarence Day Jr. written in 1935. It was adapted for the stage in 1939 and became the longest-running straight play on Broadway, running for eight years. A movie starring William Powell, Irene Dunn, Elizabeth Taylor and Edmund Gwenn was released in 1947.
Director Rich Mancini recently announced the cast for the Playshop’s production: David Victor will play the role of Father, Zelie Pforzheimer will be the mother Vinnie. The children: Matthew Johnson as Clarence, Schuyler Andersen as John, Elliot Connor as Whitney, Evan Smolin as Harlan, and Michelle Cinguina as Mary. Filling out the cast are Manny Lieberman as the Rev. Dr. Lloyd, Marge Walsh as Margaret, Marcia Maslo as Cora, Ali Swerdlow as Annie, Robyn Montiboys as Nora, Molly Forrest as Maggie, and Victor Johnson as Dr. Humphreys.
Rehearsals got underway this week, following auditions that took place last month.
Life with Father is The Wilton Playshop’s selection for its winter presentation, with performances Feb. 10, 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18. (All shows will be at 8 p.m., except for Sunday matinees at 2.)
The play is based on a book by Clarence Day Jr. written in 1935. It was adapted for the stage in 1939 and became the longest-running straight play on Broadway, running for eight years. A movie starring William Powell, Irene Dunn, Elizabeth Taylor and Edmund Gwenn was released in 1947.
Director Rich Mancini recently announced the cast for the Playshop’s production: David Victor will play the role of Father, Zelie Pforzheimer will be the mother Vinnie. The children: Matthew Johnson as Clarence, Schuyler Andersen as John, Elliot Connor as Whitney, Evan Smolin as Harlan, and Michelle Cinguina as Mary. Filling out the cast are Manny Lieberman as the Rev. Dr. Lloyd, Marge Walsh as Margaret, Marcia Maslo as Cora, Ali Swerdlow as Annie, Robyn Montiboys as Nora, Molly Forrest as Maggie, and Victor Johnson as Dr. Humphreys.
Rehearsals got underway this week, following auditions that took place last month.
Putting a family together
During those auditions, Mr. Mancini said he had two goals: find the best actors for the parts and create a family.
“We got all the prospective dads and moms together. There is an age thing here. They have to work. Is it credible they have kids? A lot of things are playing into it,” he said. “There is chemistry, too. The boys have to look like brothers”.
“We got all the prospective dads and moms together. There is an age thing here. They have to work. Is it credible they have kids? A lot of things are playing into it,” he said. “There is chemistry, too. The boys have to look like brothers”.
Director Rich Mancini explains what he is looking for from actors auditioning for roles in The Wilton Playshop’s upcoming production of Life with Father —Bryan Haeffele photo
“I got such wonderful kids,” he said of the young people who auditioned. On one night of auditions there were at least a dozen boys and girls vying for the five roles — four boys and one girl.
“I lucked out in a lot of ways here,” Mr. Mancini said, adding that Wilton is fertile ground for young actors and actresses. “There is a lot of theatrical activity for kids in this town,” between the schools, the Playshop and Wilton Children’s Theater. “There isn’t a kid I didn’t see that hadn’t been on stage before. That’s wonderful. I had a really tough time choosing the boys. I’m really looking forward to working with them.”
The acting pool for community theater is limited, and there are many theaters in the area competing for talent.
“Casting is 90 percent of a show’s success,” Mr. Mancini said. “I’ve been lucky to get the actors I need.”
Mr. Mancini, who lives in Stratford but works as a writer by day in Norwalk, is a veteran of the Fairfield County theater scene.
“I directed my first show 30 years ago,” he said. “I’ve worked in most of the community theaters over the last three decades,” starting out at the old Polka Dot Playhouse in Bridgeport.
His first show in Wilton was in 1999, To Kill A Mockingbird. He’s also been on and off the Playshop board over the years.
The idea of doing Life with Father had been germinating for a number of years. He doesn’t think the fact the play is 70 years old is an issue.
“A lot of people don’t know it,” he said. “It’s a period piece. It was written as a period piece in 1939. It was dated to begin with,” he added with a laugh.
“It’s really funny,” he continued. “Very witty. It has great characters. It moves well for a three-act play ... it moves in its plot. As far as the comedy is concerned, it’s very well written and witty.”
With its family dynamic, Mr. Mancini said it is a great choice for family audiences.
“The family connection and nostalgia in the first place is one of the things that drew it to me as part of being the Playshop’s 75th anniversary.”
For ticket information, call 762-7629 or visit wiltonplayshop.org ..
“I lucked out in a lot of ways here,” Mr. Mancini said, adding that Wilton is fertile ground for young actors and actresses. “There is a lot of theatrical activity for kids in this town,” between the schools, the Playshop and Wilton Children’s Theater. “There isn’t a kid I didn’t see that hadn’t been on stage before. That’s wonderful. I had a really tough time choosing the boys. I’m really looking forward to working with them.”
The acting pool for community theater is limited, and there are many theaters in the area competing for talent.
“Casting is 90 percent of a show’s success,” Mr. Mancini said. “I’ve been lucky to get the actors I need.”
Mr. Mancini, who lives in Stratford but works as a writer by day in Norwalk, is a veteran of the Fairfield County theater scene.
“I directed my first show 30 years ago,” he said. “I’ve worked in most of the community theaters over the last three decades,” starting out at the old Polka Dot Playhouse in Bridgeport.
His first show in Wilton was in 1999, To Kill A Mockingbird. He’s also been on and off the Playshop board over the years.
The idea of doing Life with Father had been germinating for a number of years. He doesn’t think the fact the play is 70 years old is an issue.
“A lot of people don’t know it,” he said. “It’s a period piece. It was written as a period piece in 1939. It was dated to begin with,” he added with a laugh.
“It’s really funny,” he continued. “Very witty. It has great characters. It moves well for a three-act play ... it moves in its plot. As far as the comedy is concerned, it’s very well written and witty.”
With its family dynamic, Mr. Mancini said it is a great choice for family audiences.
“The family connection and nostalgia in the first place is one of the things that drew it to me as part of being the Playshop’s 75th anniversary.”
For ticket information, call 762-7629 or visit wiltonplayshop.org ..
© Copyright 2012 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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