Presented by: Olympic Theatre Arts
Where: Olympic Theatre Arts Main Stage, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
When: March 30-April 16, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets: Available at box office, 1-5 p.m., Monday-Friday or online, olympictheatrearts.org
More info: call 683-7326
When young, New Jersey native Nick Cristano is offered his dream job in Seattle, his old-fashioned grandparents will come up with anything to get him to stay.
A storyline people of all ages might know too well, “Over the River and Through the Woods” is a comical play set in the late 1980s and early 1990s written by Joe DiPietro and directed by Jim Guthrie. The show runs from March 30 through April 16.
Guthrie earned a minor in drama from the University of California – Santa Barbara and has been involved in community theater since the 1980s. He has acted and directed in several plays in Port Angeles and Sequim.
“I like to do something a little bit different” Guthrie said. “This one breaks the fourth wall with the characters talking to the audience.”
He explained the characters give monologues throughout the play to tell their individual stories. This play in particular is interesting for him to direct because he never really got to know his grandparents growing up.
“It shows a young man’s relationship with his two sets of grandparents,” Guthrie said.
“It was interesting for me because my parents were older and I never really got to know my grandparents.”
One element Guthrie and his production team are incorporating into the show is projecting images during the characters’ monologues in order to reflect the monologue in some way.
For lead actor Brohm Dason, the role of Nick Cristano is a character he resonates with.
“I just fell in love with the script and saw that there was a character that really resounded with me,” Dason said.
Dason believes Nick represents the typical American man just trying to make it in society. The play portrays his perspective on life and those of of his adoring, yet opposing grandparents.
“It’s a very family friendly play,” Dason said. “There is something that speaks to a younger generation and also I think to a lot of parents and grandparents.”
Charlotte Carroll, a transplant from Alaska playing the role of Aida, said she has been directing plays for several years, such as “I Do! I Do!” and this is her first play at Olympic Theatre Arts where she gets to be on the other side of the stage.
“The part of Aida, she’s so adorable,” Carroll said. “It’s a nice little part.”
Carroll said this play has a good balance of heartwarming moments and comedy.
“Because (Aida) is very old-fashioned in her nature she has some very funny lines,” Carroll explained. “There’s lots of laughs in this show. It’s also very heartwarming.”
The other actors in this show include Britni Alleman-Lorenzi, Marti McAllister-Wolf, Rich Hendricksen and Joe Shultz.
As part of Olympic Theatre Arts community outreach campaign, it is partnering with other area nonprofits each of this season’s shows. This show it will be partnering with Peninsula Behavioral Health.
“Over the River and Through the Woods” shows from March 30 through April 16. Preview night is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30. Shows run on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees show at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online at olympictheatrearts.org and at the box office from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., 683-7326.
