Among other things
Paul Fugleberg < br > Leader Staff | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 19 years, 8 months AGO
The Port Polson Players production of Neil Simon's Broadway Bound plays one more weekend at the John Dowdall Theatre on the Polson golf course's "Old Nine." I recommend that you see it.
While it's billed as a comedy, the play is much more than that. It reminds me of the popular, long running TV series MASH. There's nothing funny about war, but each episode of MASH was filled with hilarious one-liners, a cast of eccentric, unlikely characters, yet the tragic nature of war came through loud and clear through the portrayals of the individuals and the situations they faced. A sense of humor was essential to maintaining sanity, to function and to survive.
The same principle holds true to Broadway Bound. There's nothing funny about dysfunctional families. Yet in the play, two brothers (played by Scott Gramer and Mike Lozar) struggle to break into the radio market of 1949 as a comedy script writing team. And struggle they do, living at home with a cranky, stubborn, old socialist grandfather (Neal Lewing) who is separated from his wife, their parents (Ron Grogan and Joyce Shima) whose marriage is disintegrating, and their mother's wealthy sister (Laura Waters).
Each of the characters has a personal life story reflected in the serious situations they confront. Not a pretty plot to be laced with laughter. But a sense of humor — slapstick, cornball, dry and/or wry — enables the team to survive in the dysfunctional setting and provides fodder for the brothers' eventual success in writing comedy radio scripts.
There are laughs galore, but they never overshadow the uncomfortable nature of the family's multitude of problems.
The cast does a wonderful job of depicting the characters and situations. Helping them are three unseen actors (Rich Forbis, Dean August and Angela Gazzara) who provide radio voices.
Talented Trish Tavenner provides pre-show and intermission piano music.
All in all, Players once again deserve a doff of the fedora and a "done good" rating.
New this year at the theatre is a "crow's nest" lighting control booth that eliminates the sometimes distracting lighting controls that had operated from the back of the seating area.
Broadway Bound plays at 7:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1.
ARTICLES BY PAUL FUGLEBERG < BR > LEADER STAFF
Ahh, controversy, long has it waved
Despite the attention focusing on such topics as the HD 12 vote recount and ensuing legal battles, the Kootenai Lodge subdivision proposal, smoke-free ordinances, Bush bashing, soaring gas and fuel oil prices, zoning, four lane vs. super two highway, water rights, etc., controversial issues in Lake County are nothing new.
Supreme Court gives HD 12 race to Windham
After a tie vote, weeks of suspense, three recounts, an earlier Supreme Court refusal to hear the case, a district court decision upholding the recount board's decision and, finally, the Supreme Court's overturning the district court's findings, Democrat Jeanne Windham of Polson is the House District 12 Representative.
Among other things
The Port Polson Players production of Neil Simon's Broadway Bound plays one more weekend at the John Dowdall Theatre on the Polson golf course's "Old Nine." I recommend that you see it.