DEBORA SHAULIS | On the Scene A way to help, a way to heal

Joe Scarvell of Hubbard agreed to direct Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" because of his loyalty to Youngstown Playhouse. That is where he honed his craft as an actor and director. It's where he met his wife of 43 years, Joanne. It's where his good friend, Bentley Lenhoff, is leading efforts to reinvigorate the theater artistically and financially.
Scarvell didn't say yes to escape reality. His 14-year-old granddaughter, Kyrsten Studer, died 18 months ago in a hit-and-run accident while walking with friends along state Route 304 in Hubbard. Scarvell's family is still grappling with emotions that follow such a devastating loss.
The play "doesn't divert my attention," he said. "Unfortunately, nothing does. Everywhere I go, I see reminders."
Theater wasn't one of Scarvell's priorities when Lenhoff contacted him a few months ago, "but I felt obliged to help Bentley and the Playhouse," he said. "Bentley has been good to me and needed me, so I wanted to do what I could for him."
Lenhoff knew the Playhouse would benefit from Scarvell's experience. Scarvell has supervised theatrical productions at Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage, Pa., since 1965. He's teaching an introductory course in communications studies at Youngstown State University. He and actress Lynn Nelson Rafferty teamed up on a touring show, "The Belle of Amherst," featuring Rafferty as poet Emily Dickinson. The last show that Scarvell directed at the Playhouse was the musical "Finian's Rainbow" about four years ago.
Many reminders
Directing a show after experiencing personal tragedy hasn't changed the way Scarvell views his actors' efforts. After all, he's spent two-thirds of his 73 years near a stage. "I have seen all of the problems of actors, being one myself," he said. "I've already experienced these emotions and these things. I'm reminded of them, but nothing is fresh.
"The tragedy surfaces not because I become more sensitive of problems or characters, but because I can relate to their problems. Someone will say something and there will be a serious problem, and it will take me right to my little girl. "What's good about directing "Brighton Beach Memoirs" is that Scarvell enjoys managing people onstage, solving theatrical problems and making discoveries -- "all the things literary artists put in their work, and things they don't put in but we as readers put in ourselves," he said. The sewing machine in the opening scene of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" is an example. There are autobiographical elements in Simon's story set in 1937 about the burdens of a teenage boy, his parents, brother, widowed aunt and her teenage daughters. Scarvell is using the sewing machine as a symbol of Aunt Blanche's loss. Whenever she finds herself in a conflict with another character, she returns to her sewing.
"It's almost like a crutch, the blanket we wrap around ourselves, the heroin or cocaine or whatever people use to mitigate their problems," he said. "Brighton Beach Memoirs" is as much about comedy as drama. It's also Scarvell's favorite Neil Simon play. Scarvell believes audiences -- especially men -- will relate to lead character Eugene's struggles with puberty. Eugene also is the narrator and breaks scenes to address the audience.
The Playhouse is dedicating this production to Kyrsten Studer. That, too, is bittersweet for Scarvell. Kyrsten attended many of the shows he directed. "All of our grandchildren, as soon as they could sit still, they were going to plays," he said.
"We'll beat this rap, my wife and I and children," Scarvell said. He knows from talking to people who have experienced similar losses that people don't overcome such pain. "You become accustomed to the hurting. It becomes as normal as someone who's walking around with arthritis."
Though he still chokes up at the thought of Kyrsten, "It feels good to talk about," he said. People don't need to apologize for bringing up the subject. "Talking about it softens the loss."
"Brighton Beach Memoirs" will be performed weekends from Oct. 29 to Nov. 14. Call (330) 788-8739 for reservations.
Memorial garden
There's another memorial under way at the Playhouse -- the creation of the Henry B. Jones Memorial Garden. Jones was a caretaker, house manager and actor at the Playhouse for decades, dating to when the Youngstown Players performed in a building on Arlington Street.
Jones also was famous for the rose bushes he tended outside the building, so a garden in his memory is most fitting.
Gifts in memory of Jones and other Playhouse supporters will be accepted once costs are calculated. In the meantime, the Playhouse is taking names and telephone numbers of interested donors, who will be contacted later.
XDebora Shaulis is entertainment editor. Write her at shaulis@vindy.com.