Following tradition, the Clarkston Village Players are closing out the 2005-06 season with a special production by devoted members.
Vern Vackero and Nancy Penvose are either on stage or working behind the sense for nearly every CVP production. To close the season, the two are not only staring in, but directing, producing and even set building for the comedic drama ‘Park your car in Harvard Yard? by Israel Horovitz
‘I don’t know if it’s because we’re busy or not, but we’re always exhausted when we’re done rehearsing,? Penvose joked.
Jacob Brackish (Vackero), one of the meanest teachers to ever walk the halls of Gloucester High School, needs a housekeeper. Katherine Hogan (Penvose) answers the ad and is hired. Over the span of a year, memories for both characters come into play and change their relationship and their lives.
Vackero has been with CVP for nearly 20 years and most recently appeared as an interdimensional dean of students in ‘The Whole Shebang.? Vackero said the last production is always a smaller cast and he and Penvose worked together in four of the 10 special productions.
‘Three of the four have been just us,? Penvose laughed. ‘I actually enjoy doing this for me because it’s more opportunity to really get to know a character.?
‘When you only have two characters in a show, the characters become more well developed,? Vackero agreed. ‘I think these are more challenging and both of us, I think, enjoy it for the same reason.
‘Sometimes you’re in a play and you have a really good idea how it’s going to play and sometimes you don’t. This is one of those where I feel I don’t know,? Vackero added.
‘I like it as a play, certainly like the character I’m playing,? Penvose concurred. ‘It may not appear to be but it’s one of the toughest ones to rehearse,? she added, referring to audio and visual cues they have not been able to practice with yet.
This production will be Penvose’s first time on stage this season, at least with her face visible. Penvose has been with CVP for 13 years and worked off stage for several productions this season, as well as being the writer and voices behind the ‘Once Upon a Puppet? performances.
Penvose, a native of England, said the Boston accent is one of the hardest she has learned.
‘I love dialects and I love accents, but this has been one of the toughest ones for me to nail because I’ve never been to Boston and it’s not one that is commonly heard,? she said.
Vackero commented these small productions are hard because they require a lot of work in a short amount of time for a week’s worth of performances.
Special performances are scheduled for CVP supporters, with only three performances open to the public on June 9?11. The Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m. and the Sunday show begins at 2 p.m.
As of press time, the Saturday show is already sold out. Tickets for remaining shows are available online at www.clarkstonvillageplayers.org or by calling 248-625-8811. Tickets may also be purchased at the door before each performance, however, availability cannot be assured. Due to language content, this play is not suitable for children.