Marvin's Room Marvellous

Three Stars

Location: Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Road, Manchester

Production: by Scott McPherson. Directed and set designed by JosephKeach-Longo. Stage manager Tom Goodin. Lighting design by Kyle Charles. Sound design by Mike Pienkosz.

Running time: 2 hours, with one 15-minute intermission

Show Times: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m.through March 9.Tickets: $18 - $23. Seniors over 60 and students receive a discount. Call the box office at 647-9824, or visit their Web site atwww.cheneyhall.org

ACTOR…CHARACTER

Virginia Freese...Bessie
Daniel Coyle...Dr. Wally
Miriam Neiman...Ruth
Augustus Marinak...Bob
Betsy Bradley...Lee
Darlene LaPointe...Dr. Charlotte
Peter Waluk...Hank
Jason Fazzino...Charlie
Diane Lareau AmEnde...Retirement Home Director.

(Originally ran in the Journal Inquirer, February 2008)

MANCHESTER - The Little Theatre of Manchester kicked off their 2008 season with "Marvin's Room," a sometimes humorous, and often touching story of life, love, and how people cope with what life throws in their direction.

Virginia Freese plays Bessie, a woman who has devoted much of her life to caring for her ailing father, Marvin, and her elderly Aunt Ruth, played by Miriam Neiman.

At one point in the play Freese's character says wryly that her father "has been dying for the last 20 years -He doesn't want me to miss anything." Her tone, one of resigned good humor, is constant, but when she becomes ill herself, she reveals her fear and worry to her sister, Lee, played with pitch-perfect impatience by Betsy Bradley.

Bradley's Lee has her own concerns, with two children, one a17-year-old named Hank, who has been placed in a mental institution, and is played believably by Peter Waluk, and the other a 10-year-old named Charlie, played by Jason Fazzino.

Particularly good was the scene between the two boys, with the older one forcefully lecturing the younger on how to behave in a way that siblings really talk to each other.

In fact, the whole play, written Scott McPherson and flawlessly directed by Joseph Keach-Longo, had the ring of truth. Keach-Longo also designed the set, which was spare and functional in its transitions from a doctor's office, to a home interior, to Disney World.

The play takes place primarily in Florida, and briefly in Ohio, where Lee and her two boys live. They come down to Florida and visit. The play has a child-like hopefulness and optimism about it, making the best of whatever life deals out, with grace and love.

All the actors were fine, including the ditzy Dr. Wally played by Daniel Coyle, the insincere double-speaking psychiatrist, Dr.Charlotte, played by Darlene LaPointe, and the officious retirement home director, Diane Lareau AmEnde.

Augustus Marinak's Bob the receptionist was almost a cameo role, which he played well and gave the play some much-appreciated comic relief.

The subject of death and dying is a heavy one, and not a topic most people generally like to think about, but this play brings up some important issues, like the expense of growing old and disabled in this country.

And love. Love amongst siblings and family relations, and howdifficult but vital it is to show those closest to us that we care.