On Golden Pond

Acclaimed On Golden Pond Opens Rep's 33rd Theatre Season

L-R: Marilyn McCormick, Lance Dickson L-R: Marilyn McCormick, Lance Dickson

L-R: back row: Jim Buschmann, Daniel McBride, John Olson L-R: front row: Marilyn Foote, Lance Dickson, Marilyn McCormick L-R: Marilyn McCormick, Lance Dickson

Hi Res TIF files for printing: golden-1.tif - golden-2.tif - golden-3.tif - golden-4.tif
Photos courtesy of Dan Tubbs

Two Thumbs Up!

Read the Times Standard review by Barry Blake
Read the Beacon review by Beti Trauth

The critically acclaimed Broadway hit play On Golden Pond opens the 33rd season of the Ferndale Repertory Theatre. Preview performance is Thursday, September 30 at 8:00P.M.; tickets for Preview performance only are all $10.00. Gala Opening Night is Friday, October 1 at 8:00P.M. A reception for gallery artist Leslie R. Fergusen precedes the performance in the Art From the Hart gallery in the theatre's Box Office at 6:30P.M. until performance time. Performances continue Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00P.M. and Sundays at 2:00P.M. through October 22. Our last show is Saturday, October 23 at 2:00P.M. Ticket prices are $12 (general) and $10 (students & seniors). Thursday, October 21, is our Actor's Benefit Night where proceeds from the evening's show go to our hard-working cast and crew. For ticket reservations and information, please call (707) 786-5483.

The touching drama by Ernest Thompson is the love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, who are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for their 48th year. Norman (Lance Dickson) is an elderly retired professor with heart palpitations and a failing memory--but still tart-tongued and observant as ever. Wife Ethel (Marilyn McCormick) is 10 years younger and the perfect foil for Norman. She delights in all the small things that have enriched and continue to enrich their long life together. In the play, the Thayers start the summer, and, along with long-time friend and Golden Pond mailman (John Olson), anticipate the arrival of their divorced daughter Chelsea (Marilyn Foote) and her dentist boyfriend, Bill Ray, (Jim Buschmann). The couple goes to Europe leaving Bill's young son, Billy Jr., (Daniel McBride) behind for the summer with Norman and Ethel.

Renee Grinnell directs, set and sound design is by Daniel L. Lawrence, light design is by Jessie Talbert, and stage management is in Shannan Dailey's capable hands.

On Golden Pond is a humorous and touching story of love that is both endearing and enduring. It gives us hope that it is never too late to connect with our family, to renew our love, and to grow. Written in the late 1970s, On Golden Pond has become one of the favorites of world theatre. It is a timeless and timely piece that will delight and touch our Humboldt audiences. It is sweet and understated and says more than it seems to on the surface about love, the aging process, and the generation gap.

Our thanks go to Spencer Engineering & Construction Management, Inc. for partially underwriting this production.

For tickets and reservations, please call (707) 786-5483.

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The Rep's "On Golden Pond" sparkles with laughter and tears

Beti Trauth
Beacon Correspondent
Play Review for Thursday, October 7, 2004 Issue

Ferndale Repertory Theatre's 33rd Season has gotten off to a splendid beginning with its beautiful production of Ernest Thompson's poignant comedy, "On Golden Pond." Directed by Rene Grinnell, the play is so perfectly cast that from the moment each actor appears, the audience accepts them completely as the person (not just character) they're portraying.

It's the summer of 1979, and the lights come up on the ThayersãEthel (Marilyn McCormick) and Norman (Lance Dickson). The couple have just arrived at their yearly retreat, a rustic but spacious and comfortable cabin nestled on the shore of Golden Pond, Maine. This marks the 48th time that the aging pair have gone through their annual ritual of removing the dust covers from the waiting furniture, unrolling the rugs, and setting up house.

To Ethel, that also means renewing her battle with all of the bugs who have had the unmitigated nerve to invade the premises in her absence. Alternating between a lethal fly swatter and a broom, she doesn't give them a chance.

Norman is more interested in finding something to occupy his fading memory and failing health; he'll soon be 80 (he's10 years older than his wife), and is very much aware that this summer with her, could well be his last.

A retired professor with a cutting wit and cranky ways, he has made it almost impossible for anyone (but Ethel) to love him. That includes their only child, daughter Chelsey (Marilyn Foote), who is now middle aged and divorced.

She chose to be estranged from her parents for years because of her father's intimidating waysãhowever, she's about to show up and visit them for a few days. Ethel is delighted, hoping that their personal fences can now be mended.

Also happy about seeing Chelsey again is her childhood beau, Charlie (John Olson), now Golden Pond's longtime mailman. He's a chatty New England type, who makes his deliveries by boat, and always stays awhile to share some local gossip over a cup of Ethel's hot coffee and tasty biscuits. Bachelor Charlie still carries a torch for Chelsey; and is disappointed when he finds out her reason for coming.

She's arriving with her new boyfriend, a well-off dentist from California, Bill Ray (Jim Buschmann). The couple are on their way to vacation together in Europe, and they want to do so by themselves. Therefore, Bill's young teenage son, Billy Junior (Daniel McBride) is about to be "left" with Norman and Ethel for the summer.

Although Norman is initially reluctant about the whole situationãputting Bill through his own special style of Spanish Inquisitionãhe finally agrees to let his daughter make her own decisions. The fact that she is an adult, had never kept him from treating her like a child all of her lifeãand "love" is a four letter word he never, ever uttered.

In any case, Norman realizes that he's running out of time, and reluctantly agrees to "allow" Chelsey and Bill to not only sleep together under his roof, but leave the boy behind with him and Ethel for the rest of the summer.

In spite of his initial, grouchy reservations, Norman eventually forms a strong bond with Billy. It begins with just being "fishing buddies;" but blossoms through the warm months stretching from May to September into much more. This odd couple close their generation gap, teaching each other strange new words and behaviors that enrich both of their lives.

Ethel watches in wonder and amazement, seeing the man she loves so much miraculously mellow in the fading twilight of his golden years.

The Thayers and Billy are mirrored by a pair of Golden Pond's old birdsãloons, mated for life, who have also raised one, last chick during that long, lovely summer of 1979.

Playwright Thompson's script, written when he himself was only in his late 20's, is remarkably rich in metaphor and understanding. Every one of his characters (no matter how young or old) are complete creations, real people who are capable of making you laugh and cry. It's truly a beautiful play, and the cast is wonderful.

So is the scenic design by Daniel Lawrence, which is undoubtedly one of the best ever built on the Rep stage. Enhanced with some glorious scenic painting (by Bruce Keller and Laura Nesson), they have created a beautiful "great outdoors" that peeks through the back part of the set's authentic doors and windows.

The audience could actually be looking at a real New England landscape - made even more believable by Lawrence's "sounds of nature" design. Jesse Talbert's lighting also indicates the time of day, as the seasons move smoothly from morning to night, through mid-summer to early autumn.

The interior itself is a marvelous representation of the cabin's living room, so homey and inviting that you want to move in. Complete with a towering ceiling and a big fireplace and mantle, there are also sets of different steps and levels that lead into a kitchen on the right. Various mounted fish (presumably caught in the pond), hang here and there on the walls.

There are bookcases loaded with volumes, photos of family (and forgotten friends), a telephone (with a local operator), a big couch with a colorful throw on the back, and a small table with some chairs where food is eaten, papers read, and games played.

There's also a tall staircase on the left that winds halfway to a landing, then up to the beginning of a hallway with doors that lead to the unseen bath room and bedrooms upstairs. Downstairs, the actors give the illusion that they are looking out at the water itself, standing on the downstage apron of the stage, and peering intently over the heads of the audience through imaginary windows. Well-placed sound effects of calling loons and approaching motor boats and cars also expand that illusion into reality.

Visually, this has got to be one of the best productions of the year - in spite of some lengthy resetting of props and furniture between scenes, by stagehands, that stops the flow of the action. Hopefully, this will tighten up as the run progresses. However, that said, the preview performance that I saw on opening weekend, was already a basically solid and artistically powerful production.

And, as this Rep show continues to grow, I believe that audiences will see it turn into one of the top community theatre productions of 2004. Ethel and Norman's bittersweet love story "On Golden Pond" is sure to make a direct hit in your heart

Be sure and make your reservations now, before it closes on October 23rd. The adult nature of the story and language of the play is not suitable for young children. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Evening curtains are at 8:00 p.m.; matinees at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 general, $10 students/seniors. Group rates are available. Call 786-5483 for information and reservations.

Ferndale Repertory Theatre
Post Office Box 892 • 447 Main Street • Ferndale, CA 95536-0096

Tickets: (707) 786-5483 • Fax: (707) 786-5480 • Email: info@ferndale-rep.org