Director works with mother to deliver comedy
Next up for the stage at First United Methodist Church’s Emmett Hook Center theater is Ivan Menchell’s touching and funny comedy, “The Cemetery Club.”
It deals with three widowed Jewish ladies who meet every month for tea and a trip to the cemetery to pay respects at their husbands’ graves. The last thing the club needs is an interloper, and Sam the butcher, suddenly turns into a problem in more ways than one.
Eileen Heckart starred in the Broadway production, and Ellen Burstyn, Dianne Ladd and Olympia Dukakis starred in the movie version. Locally, Marcia Cassanova has been cast as Ida, Sylvia Rachal as Lucille, and Patti Reeves will portray Doris. Tom Serio will intrude as Sam, and Mary Beth Tucker rounds out the cast as Mildred.
“Every single one of them is fabulous, so that really helps,” “Cemetery Club” director Reagan Cassanova said.
Yes, as in daughter of Marcia. “Well, it’s [directing one’s mother] really great actually,” Reagan said. “She wants feedback, and even when I’m not giving her stuff during rehearsal, she’ll call and double check that she’s doing everything that I want her to be doing. She really follows direction quite well; they all do.”
And what’s it like from the other side of the footlights?
Maria said, “It’s very cool to be directed by my daughter. We have a very respectful thing going on. She’s the director, and I’m not. I had heard people say before that they really liked being directed by Reagan, and I can certainly see why. She has a very patient way of dealing with everyone, getting her point across without having to be the slightest bit snide or ugly. I’m really trying to tell you that I love my kid.”
The boss said the entire cast has been a pleasure to direct. “When you’re working with people who have been doing it so long it just makes things very easy. They’ve all been doing their homework. They also feel very comfortable talking to me about their characters and things they would like to see happen on stage. It’s been a very good give and take.”
She also said all the actors have great chemistry on stage. Her mother agreed and added, “I’m having a ball. Sylvia [Rachal] is just as funny as she can be; Patti [Reeves] is just off the charts.
Off the charts funny but facing a challenge, Reeves said, to turn off her real life job as head of the drama department at Caddo Magnet High School. “Turning off the director is very hard,” she admitted. “I have to really concentrate on the fact that I’m an actor and it helps because this has been a difficult role for me. Doris came from a very, very, very long and happy marriage and has all these wonderful memories and wants to cling to them. I’ve been divorced twice. What I’ve had to do is daydream about Abe [Doris’ late husband] and the different memories we would have had together like going dancing, so when I do remember these things [as Doris], there are actual pictures in my head. That’s been a little challenging.”
It will give you an insight into the fact that older people still want relationships, too.
– director, Reagan Cassanova
The appeal of this production, according to the ladies, is in the story. “I think everybody can identify with it because it’s about relationships,” said Reagan. “It’s not just about the relationships that the women had with their husbands; it’s about the relationships they have with each other.” Maria put it this way, “It’s three women approaching their widowhood in very different ways. [When the audience sees] it, they’re going to [recognize] someone that they know.” Reagan, playing an actor in this one, said, “It will give you an insight into the fact that older people still want relationships, too. It’s a wonderful tale of the reality of friendship, which means you can argue and disagree and still love each other. And it’s just a great cast.”
“The Cemetery Club” runs Sept. 20-29, and tickets are available by calling the box office at 429-6885 or by going online to www.emmetthookcenter.org Reagan said, “Everybody should come and see it because it has just a little bit of everything. It’s got nostalgia, lots of humor, and there are touching moments when your eyes are going to get misty, but they’re going to be followed with laughter.”
Maria added, “I’ve told my friends that they need to come and to wear some sort of protective undergarment because they’re going to laugh so hard.”
Joe Todaro may be reached at joetodaro@scribio.com.
