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Ensemble cast excels in "Fifth of July" at New Castle Playhouse
By LORRAINE WARDLE
NEW CASTLE, Pa.
The latest production at the New Castle Playhouse, “Fifth of July,” takes us back in time. Not just a month, as the title indicates, but to 1977, a time when subjects such as Vietnam and war protests still stung in the hearts of many.
“Fifth of July,” by Lanford Wilson, is the story of a family struggling with its past. As the title suggests, the play takes place on July 4 and 5, 1977. The characters have assembled in their old family home near Lebanon, Mo., to scatter the ashes of their deceased uncle. As they visit with one another, they remember old struggles, and new problems arise.
The plot becomes fairly complex as each of the characters has his or her own agenda.
First is Ken, a gay man who became a paraplegic in Vietnam. A former English teacher, Ken struggles with the loss of his legs and feels that he cannot return to teaching. His partner, Jed, is a botanist who loves to tend to the garden on Ken’s estate. Jed also loves Ken and is obviously pained to see Ken lose his confidence.
Justin Anderson gave an impressive performance as Ken. Both physically – moving about the stage using crutches – and emotionally, Anderson was completely believable. As Jed, Mark McConnell gave a quiet, subtle portrayal of a man hurting because the one he loves hurts.
Ken’s sister, June, and her daughter Shirley, join the men for the memorial gathering. Tessa Flannery’s June seems to have accepted her role as mother, but still dwells on the past. Flannery’s performance was natural and cool through all the chaos of the play.
Playwright Wilson doesn’t seem to know what to do with Shirley. She randomly runs around screaming and spouting her dreams for fame. Perhaps Wilson intended Shirley to be reminiscent of her mother’s younger self, but the character seems completely unrealistic. However, Dougherty is a gifted young actress and gave her character life and passion.
Joining the family is married couple John and Gwen. In the early ’60s, Ken and June met John and Gwen in college, and the four of them became revolutionaries. They all are still friends, but underneath the surface of their friendship lurks some unresolved issues.
Gwen is the wealthy heiress of a copper company who has dreams of becoming a famous singer. Her husband, John, tries to control her company behind her back. Megan Flannery played the flamboyant Gwen with verve, swinging through emotional highs and lows. Jesse Pomerico’s John seemed good-natured at first, but his actions became questionable as the play progressed.
Gwen and John brought with them Weston, a songwriter. Weston was rather one-dimensional, but Brandon McCormick transformed him into a quirky character, offering both comic relief and insight.
The final, and possibly best, character in this strong ensemble cast is Sally, Ken and June’s aunt, the matriarch of the clan. Molly Galano brought Sally to life with wisdom and grace. Galano has an impeccable sense of delivery and timing that produces a loveable and realistic character.
“Fifth of July” continues Friday and Saturday and Aug. 24-25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday and Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. at New Castle Playhouse Annex Theater, 202 E. Long Ave. For tickets, call 724-654-3437.