Wow! Family comedy explores spiritual side
Daytona News Journal
By RICK de YAMPERT
Entertainment Writer
Last update: January 20, 2006
DAYTONA BEACH -- When Pauline Rodick first read the play "Greetings," she knew she had to act in the comedy by Tom Dudzick. "I loved the theme, and I tend to lean toward the concept of reincarnation anyway," says the Ormond Beach resident and native of Oldham, England.
With a number of community theater credits in her homeland as well as Canada and the United States, Rodick got her chance to act in "Greetings" when the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach staged the play. Now Rodick, who was certified in drama, piano and voice by the London College of Music, is directing her first full-length play -- the Daytona Playhouse production of "Greetings." The Playhouse opens its production today.
Dudzick's comedy revolves around the Gorski family: Andy (portrayed by John Lucas), his sweet Catholic mother, Emily (Sandy Zimbler), his dour Catholic father, Phil (J. Walker Fischer), and Andy's severely mentally handicapped younger brother, Mickey (Timothy Turner).
Tensions rise on Christmas Eve when Andy brings his Jewish atheist fiancee, Randi Stein (Carol Cole), to meet his family. The friction escalates until Mickey, whose entire vocabulary has consisted of "Oh boy" and "Wow," suddenly blurts out "Greetings." Contemplating this miracle, writes Dudzick on his Web site, "propels the family into a wild exploration of love, religion, personal truth and the nature of earthly reality."
"Certainly this play is a comedy, but it is so much more than that," Rodick says. "It has a spiritual quotient that cannot be ignored. When I acted in this play I felt renewed after every performance."
While the play is a comedy, Rodick believes the play is not insensitive to the lives and concerns of the mentally handicapped.
"This play is written so sensitively and so well that I have no concerns that anyone might be offended," she says. "It offers the concept that there is more to the mentally retarded than we suspect. How could anyone be upset by that? I also think that all the actors are doing such a great job that it will only make everyone feel good."
rick.deyampert@news-jrnl.com
IF YOU GO
WHAT: "Greetings."
WHEN: 8 p.m. today and Saturday, plus 2 p.m. Sunday. Additional play dates -- 8 p.m. Thursday and Jan. 27-28, plus 2 p.m. Jan. 29.
WHERE: Daytona Playhouse, 100 Jessamine Blvd., Daytona Beach.
TICKETS: $12, children 16 and younger $10.
INFORMATION: (386) 255-2431.
Daytona News Journal
By RICK de YAMPERT
Entertainment Writer
Last update: January 20, 2006
DAYTONA BEACH -- When Pauline Rodick first read the play "Greetings," she knew she had to act in the comedy by Tom Dudzick. "I loved the theme, and I tend to lean toward the concept of reincarnation anyway," says the Ormond Beach resident and native of Oldham, England.
With a number of community theater credits in her homeland as well as Canada and the United States, Rodick got her chance to act in "Greetings" when the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach staged the play. Now Rodick, who was certified in drama, piano and voice by the London College of Music, is directing her first full-length play -- the Daytona Playhouse production of "Greetings." The Playhouse opens its production today.
Dudzick's comedy revolves around the Gorski family: Andy (portrayed by John Lucas), his sweet Catholic mother, Emily (Sandy Zimbler), his dour Catholic father, Phil (J. Walker Fischer), and Andy's severely mentally handicapped younger brother, Mickey (Timothy Turner).
Tensions rise on Christmas Eve when Andy brings his Jewish atheist fiancee, Randi Stein (Carol Cole), to meet his family. The friction escalates until Mickey, whose entire vocabulary has consisted of "Oh boy" and "Wow," suddenly blurts out "Greetings." Contemplating this miracle, writes Dudzick on his Web site, "propels the family into a wild exploration of love, religion, personal truth and the nature of earthly reality."
"Certainly this play is a comedy, but it is so much more than that," Rodick says. "It has a spiritual quotient that cannot be ignored. When I acted in this play I felt renewed after every performance."
While the play is a comedy, Rodick believes the play is not insensitive to the lives and concerns of the mentally handicapped.
"This play is written so sensitively and so well that I have no concerns that anyone might be offended," she says. "It offers the concept that there is more to the mentally retarded than we suspect. How could anyone be upset by that? I also think that all the actors are doing such a great job that it will only make everyone feel good."
rick.deyampert@news-jrnl.com
IF YOU GO
WHAT: "Greetings."
WHEN: 8 p.m. today and Saturday, plus 2 p.m. Sunday. Additional play dates -- 8 p.m. Thursday and Jan. 27-28, plus 2 p.m. Jan. 29.
WHERE: Daytona Playhouse, 100 Jessamine Blvd., Daytona Beach.
TICKETS: $12, children 16 and younger $10.
INFORMATION: (386) 255-2431.
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