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Bradford Little Theater’s “This Day and Age” to hit stage starting today
By LOREN FERGUSON
Special to The Era
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Era photo by Francie Long
The curtain goes up on “This Day and Age,” by Nagle Jackson and put on by the cast of the Bradford Little Theatre, at 7:30 p.m. today in the Bromeley Family Theatre in Blaisdell Hall at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Cast members including, from left, Kelly Stone, Robert Erickson, Ann Dunkerton, Jim Miller and Cindy Graham find that family time can make it difficult to enjoy a day filled with sunshine and liquor. Directed by Diane Kerner Arnett and produced by Nanci K. Garris, the play will also show at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. |
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Anyone wishing for an express ticket to summer would be well-advised to attend a showing of the Bradford Little Theater’s take on “This Day and Age” by Nagle Jackson.
Certainly the intimate setting and the sounds of splashing in a swimming pool brought a feeling of warmth to the Bromeley Family Theatre at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, which will play host to the play at 7:30 p.m. today, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
“This Day and Age” centers around a day in the life of an aging family who spend the day lounging in their summertime garb while drinking liquor and picking one another apart.
Marjorie, played by Ann Dunkerton of Smethport, is a widow enjoying life as she sits by the pool sipping on gin and tonics. Her day is disrupted by the sounds of cars pulling into the driveway that signal the arrival of Ann, her high-maintenance daughter from Manhattan, and Tony, her under-achieving son.
Ann, played by Cindy Graham, and Tony, played by Robert Erickson, drop the bomb on Marjorie by both declaring that they, along with their spouses and children, will be coming home to roost.
The two siblings begin to peck at one another over who already has enough and is unworthy of retaining the nest, or “the place,” as the cast members fondly call it.
As the battle rages on, Ann’s husband, Brian, played by Jim Miller, and Tony’s wife, Joy, played by Kelly Stone, do their best to keep the peace or avoid the situation all-together.
The drinks keep coming and the sun keeps beating, and Marjorie drops her own bomb, spoiling the nest with the rotten egg of an idea that she is moving to New Zealand, explaining that she would rather “preside over the decline and fall at a distance.”
While her children begin to come together during panic mode, Brian, who sees the glass as half-full though his is always half empty, and Joy, who is happy as long as she is in the pool, try to encourage everyone to look at the brighter side of things.
In fact, Brian only becomes flustered when he begins to talk about he and Ann’s lack of bedside relationships, shortly after which he begins to focus some unwanted attention on Joy.
As the situation climaxes, Ann and Tony go inside to argue with a realtor whom Marjorie has called to help rid her of “the place.” While inside, a heated confrontation happens between Joy and the surprisingly forward Brian, who by the end of the day, finds himself beaten down by alcohol and Ann into the comfort of a lounge chair.
In a moment of solitude, Marjorie calls her deceased husband, Jack, whose shadow still haunts all of his family members, from the pool for some advice. Jack, played by Charles E. Church, tells Marjorie that she will always be bound to the children and to him because “the place” will not let her move on.
With that, Marjorie decides to cut her ties for good, all the while trying to discourage Tony from living in his dad’s shadow and encourage Ann to live for herself and not other people. In the end, Marjorie finds that only one person on scene is worthy of spending time with.
With each character deserving of their own theme song and a day full of booze and bickering, “This Day and Age” calls for a lot of soul-searching and many moments of “poolside” relaxation.
The play is directed by Diane Kerner Arnett and produced by Nanci K. Garris, with sound and light design by Jeremy Garris.
Advance tickets are available until noon today at Graham Florist, Smith’s, Tina’s Hallmark, Ott & McHenry Pharmacy and Mayer Brauser store. Tickets will also be available at the door starting 30 minutes before each show. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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