Review: It's Thanksgiving in April at Group rep in NoHo

A Nice Family Gathering/by Phil Olson/directed by Doug Engalla/UPstairs at the Group rep, NoHo/through May 29

Playwright Phil Olson, who is best known for his outrageous Don't Hug Me musical comedies, is taking a look at a typical American family on Thanksgiving Day in A Nice Family Gathering, currently onstage in the black box theatre of Group rep in Noho through May 29.

The ensemble of the play are all black actors, but the play was not written specifically for them, nor is it to be considered a 'black version' of the play. It is any dysfunctional American family of any race, religion or creed, who come together willingly or unwillingly to celebrate the holiday. This is the Johnson family in a typical small town who have recently lost their father (Robert McCollum). Mom (Cynthia Bryant) is lonely for her husband, and her kids Carl (Rudolph McCollum), Michael (Glen Philip) and Stacy (Ceirra Burton) are all worried that she may be losing it, perhaps in the throes of Alzheimer's. What gives the play some edge is the appearance of Dad in ghostly form...but he is seen only by young Carl. Dad wants Carl to tell his mom that he loves and misses her ...and to get rid of his golf pal Jerry (Rich Fullman; Steven West on Saturdays) who has been invited to Thanksgiving dinner. Jerry, dad warns, is a con man who will stop at nothing to get his hands on mom's inheritance. Michael is the older son, yet Mom appoints Carl to be the executor of her will. Michael, a doctor, is having problems with his wife Jill (Veronica Roy), who cannot seem to get pregnant even on fertility drugs. Stacy, on the other hand, announces that she is pregnant... and discloses for the first time that she is a lesbian. Michael, the supposed older and wiser son, is in debt and wants to borrow 60 grand from his mother. And poor Carl, a writer, who drives a truck to make a living, is at his wit's end to please everyone. It's the start of the holiday season, and every single person in the family, except Stacy, is unhappy because they need and want something beyond their reach.

This is a kitchen sink comedic play, grounded in reality, so some of the slapstick seems inappropriate, such as Stacy getting hit by the door and falling on the floor, or Jill carrying on her whining tantrums to excess, or father falling on the floor at one point and kicking his legs in the air. These antics, although funny, work well in the Don't Hug Me plays, but here, it's too much, where less should be more.

Under Doug Engalla's otherwise sturdy hand, the cast are uniformly excellent with most of the praise going to Bryant as mom. She's such a sincere soul and so likable that you cannot help but root for her happiness, which does come in part at the end when she recognizes her husband's presence. Bryant gives a heartfelt performance! I would like to see Robert McCollum have more fun with father. I know he's a dissatisfied soul hanging around to find relief, but he could enjoy the memories more and that humor would add so much to his overall character.

Praise to Diana Martin for her lovely set and costume design.

Go see A Nice Family Gathering! You won't see or learn anything new, but you will laugh and enjoy the fine work at hand. Bravo to the company for getting this play mounted quickly in lieu of the previously announced production.

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