Looking for a little laughter with drama attached? Then check out the Clarkston Village Players as they perform ‘Melville Boys,? written by Canada’s Norm Foster.
‘I love any kind of thing that deals with relationships,? said Director Verne Vackaro. ‘The relationships between the two brothers and the two sisters (in this play) are very interesting and intriguing, particularly the ones between the two brother.?
Melville Boys is a story about two distinctly different brothers, Lee, married with children, and younger brother Owen, engaged but still a party boy. They headed to their Uncle’s cottage up north for the weekend. Lee had hopes of talking with Owen in order to get him to face a rather difficult dilemma that affects each of them, but Owen would rather avoid talk and get to fishing.
However, he will forfeit fishing for the company of two beautiful sisters, Mary, who is estranged from her husband, independent, and tries to come off confident, and her younger sister Loretta, outspoken wannabe actress, with no want for responsibility.
As the relationship between Lee and Mary grow, as well as Owen and Loretta, in the end each character must evaluate themselves, grow up and face reality.
‘I like the play that has humor in it and it’s got some meat to it.? Vackaro said. ‘It’s what I call comic-drama.?
Howard Andress said he likes Lee’s ‘grounded sense of family and responsibility.?
‘I like the change he undergoes, which is kind of subtle during the course of the show,? he said. ‘It was a little tough to grab onto at first, but it’s been slowly coming to me.?
Having done one other show with CVP last fall Andress, noted he was looking forward to working with the cast, which was motivation for him to try out.
Adam Lindemier, who has mostly done comedy and not done a drama in three years, was glad to be challenged by his character, Owen.
‘It’s completely polar opposite of who I consider myself to be,? he said.
Hale Wells, who considers acting her therapy and had worked with Verne as a director in the past, said she liked her character as Mary.
‘I have always played in the past some edgy characters, Wells said. ‘She’s (Mary) just down to earth, she’s lonely, her husband’s left, she’s independent, owns a store, kind of has an ‘I can take care of myself attitude? and I like that.?
Johana Bell who plays the part of Loretta said she likes that her character is ‘not afraid to say whatever is on her mind.?
‘She’s very outgoing, which is not like me,? Bell said. ‘I’m very shy and she is out there.?
As far as cast and crew, Vackaro said ‘they were fantastic to work with.?
Melville Boys is performed March 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 at the Depot Theater, 4861 White Lake Road.
For tickets, call 248-573-4104. Tickets are also available at Rudy’s Market, 9 S. Main Street. For more information, visit www.clarkstonvillageplayers.org.