TNT Director picks play for laughs

The play is a great comedy and is based on close family ties.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NILES -- Thirty-five years ago, Peggy McGinnis was asked by a friend to help sew buttons on costumes at Trumbull New Theatre, where she was bitten by the theater bug.
She has been involved ever since, and now is excited to be directing "Over The River And Through The Woods" by Joe DiPietro, which opens Sept. 9.
"I saw this play last year at New Castle Playhouse," she said. "I just loved it, so I picked it as a possible play for us to do here, and it got accepted. It is very funny but also has some serious moments."
The basic story is about a young man, Nick Cristano, who gets a promotion and wants to move to Seattle. He works in New York City, and both sets of grandparents live nearby in Hoboken, NJ. Nick's parents have moved to Ft. Lauderdale, and his sister lives in San Diego. The grandparents do everything they can to keep him from moving, including trying to fix him up with a girlfriend.
Lots of fun
McGinnis said she liked the play because it is so much fun, and thinks the "Trivial Pursuit" scene is the funniest moment of all. But she also likes the play because it is based on close family ties. Ben Gavitt, who is assisting McGinnis as director, echoes her sentiments.
"It is very funny, but also has some sad parts," he said. "It reminds me of the nosy parent on 'Everybody Loves Raymond.'"
He also said that there is an underlying message here that we should spend time with our family while we can, because we never know what will happen. He said he plans to spend more time with his own grandfather, who lives nearby.
Gavitt has been involved in theater for about four years. He went to broadcasting school and is a weekend DJ at a radio station in Greenville, Pa. He was recently seen onstage at The Oakland as the kitchen inmate in "Block 5."
Tim McGinley, recent recipient of a Marquee Award for Best Supporting Actor, in "Block 5" is playing the role of the maternal grandfather, Frank Gianelli.
"Frank is in his 80s, a retired carpenter who came over on a boat at age 14," said McGinley. "This show is about family. Frank subtly makes mention of the fact that he has cared for his family all his life. His wife, Aida, says he was the first one to ever notice her, and promised to build her a beautiful house if she would marry him, which he did."
"The paternal grandparents are loud, real characters," McGinley continued. "Nuzio lied about his name and said he was Irish, so he could get a job at Ford Motor Co., and worked there all his life. Both his wife, Emma, and Aida kept house, cooked and were traditional housewives. They all get together every Sunday, when Nick faithfully comes by for dinner. He is the last vestige of family, and they connive and do everything to hold onto him."
McGinley said he has been doing theater for about five years, and it is his passion. He does about three plays a year.
Director McGinnis and Jeff Smith designed the set. "There is a basic set, with lots of prop changes," she said. "Susan Gillespie designed the costumes. The play takes place in present day."