Those of us in Southeast Florida will be treated to not
one, but two stirring plays which will open early next month, Dramaworks’ On Golden Pond, and the Maltz Jupiter’s An Inspector Calls. On
Golden Pond is a feel-good, but provocatively thoughtful and humorous play
about aging and reconciliation, and An
Inspector Calls is a psychological thriller which in its examination of capitalism
is eerily relevant to today’s world.
But the factor that ties these two plays together is many
of the best acting, directing, and technical professionals of Southeast Florida
will be featured. And it is just serendipity that these plays
should run almost concurrently. Tickets will go fast for each.
On Golden Pond
is perhaps the best known because of the movie.
Dramaworks’ version will stick closely to what the playwright, Ernest
Thompson, originally intended. I was
able to interview some of the actors and the director for a Palms West Monthly news article, and I
provide the link here: http://palmswestmonthly.com/2018/01/20/on_golden_pond_palm_beach_dramaworks/
The Director of the Maltz production of An Inspector Calls, J. Barry Lewis, said
it “is considered to be one of the finest plays written in the previous
century. Such plays remain relevant because they portray everyday people – you
and me – often at our worst.“ First performed in 1945, it is one of J. B.
Priestley’s best known works.
On Golden Pond
is directed by Paul Stancato and features
John Felix as Norman. the cankerous
octogenarian who learns to forgive and to accept, Pat Bowie as his devoted wife Ethel, Karen Stephens as Chelsea, their daughter who holds onto grudges
like her father, Jim Ballard as Bill
Ray, Chelsea’s fiancé, Paul Tei as
Charlie, a local who has long loved Chelsea; and Casey Butler as Billy Ray, Bill’s teenage son. Scenic design is by Bill Clark, costume design is by Brian O’Keefe, lighting design is by Donald Edmund Thomas, and sound design is by Brad Pawlak.
Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s An Inspector Calls is directed by multiple Carbonell Award-winning
South Florida director J. Barry Lewis. The play features James Andreassi as Inspector Goole, Rob Donohoe as family patriarch Arthur Birling, and Angie Radosh as matriarch Sybil. Also
appearing is Charlotte Bydwell as
the Birlings’ eldest child Sheila, Cliff
Burgess as their youngest child Eric, and Jeremy Webb as Sheila’s fiancé Gerald Croft. Scenic design is by Victor Becker, lighting design is by Kirk Bookman, costume design is by Tracy Dorman, and resident sound
designer is Marty Mets.
Between the two plays, it is an all-star slate of
theatrical professionals.
For ticket information Dramaworks’ On Golden Pond runs February 2 – 25. Call 561-514-4042 ext. 2 or
visit https://www.palmbeachdramaworks.org/
Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s An Inspector Calls runs February 4 – 18. Call (561) 575-2223 or
visit www.jupitertheatre.org
