On Golden Pond at Skokie Theatre

My first visit to the Skokie Theatre is a reminder of the delight of local theatre in this 1912 intimate venue with MadCap celebrating its 10th year anniversary.

On Golden Pond was originally a successful Broadway play in 1981, and then a phenomenally successful film in which Henry Fonda (best actor), Katherine Hepburn (Best Actress) and Best Adapted Screenplay all wins at the 54th Academy Awards.

Bernie Rice is simply perfect as the eccentric Norman, a crusty curmudgeon and retired professor grappling with the many effects of aging and in the early stages of dementia, also estranged from his daughter. Judy Rossignulo wonderfully portrays Ethel, who, after decades of marriage, knows the habits and foibles of her husband. All the performers are perfectly cast in their roles and the show is both humorous and poignant in the portrayal of challenging family relationships.  Terrific dialogue showing the love between Norman and Ethel is maintained throughout the play. Norman, also known as “the old poop” is obsessed with death while Ethel simply loves life.

Billy, the son of Norman and Ethel’s daughter Chelsea’s new boyfriend, is played by actor AJ Carchi, with a delightful performance displaying an unexpected relationship that blooms between this 13 year old and the old man Norman.

When Norman and Ethel’s daughter Chelsea (wonderfully played by Karyn Louis Doerfler) introduces her parents to her fiancé Bill and his son, Billy, Norman tries to play mind games with Bill, but Bill tells him he knows what Norman is doing and he does not really mind, but that he will take only so much of it. Chelsea battles her frustration over her relationship with her father, while Billy is at first annoyed by being left with elderly strangers, but eventually comes to enjoy their Golden Pond fishing adventures together and some wonderful books. When Chelsea sees that her father has made friends with her fiancé’s son, she sees the change in her father’s demeanor and attempts to repair her relationship with her dad.

At the endearing ending, Norman tries to move a heavy box but starts having heart pain and collapses onto the floor, Ethel tries unsuccessfully to get the operator via phone to call the hospital, and comforts her husband, a sweet scene. As they leave Golden Pond, Norman’s pain is gone and they say a final farewell to the lake, letting go.

Whether it is finding love, maintaining love, or repairing love, this play is about complex relationships and is a real winner.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Judy Nathan

For information on this show and their upcoming season visit skokietheatre.org.

For information about this and other shows visit www.theatreinchicago.com.