WaCPAC takes on popular Neil Simon classic

WaCPAC takes on popular Neil Simon classic
Ellen Pill

During a rehearsal of “Lost in Yonkers,” Guinevere Steensen portrays Bella, and brothers Aaron, left, and Andrew Saari portray Jay and Arty in the award-winning Neil Simon play.

                        

The local production of Neil Simon’s play, “Lost in Yonkers,” will be presented in Wooster by the Wayne County Performing Arts Council for two weekends: March 29-31 and April 5-7. Curtain is at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays at the Valley College Grange.

“Lost in Yonkers” won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for drama. The story is set in 1942 and centers on two young brothers left to be raised by relatives when their mother dies and their father is forced to work as a traveling salesman to pay off the family medical bills.

Samuel Gonzalez is the show’s director. Gonzalez has been involved with theater since high school. “After a couple of years acting,” he said, “I was offered a director position and had a lot of fun in that role. Since then I’ve directed multiple shows.”

“Lost in Yonkers” has a small cast of seven local actors. Susan Hilbert plays the grandmother. Hilbert also was in WaCPAC’s last performance of the play 20 years ago. At that time she played Bella.

Gonzalez has worked with most of the current cast in previous shows. “The first show I acted in, back in 2013, was with Aaron and Andrew Saari,” he said.

The Saari brothers play Jay and Arty, brothers in the play. Twins in real life, the 15-year-old brothers attend Triway High School and are both already veterans of local theater.

Andy Saari said, “Acting is like a way you can say, ‘Hey, I don’t have to be in the mold everyone has set for me. I can be whatever I want.’ In this case it’s a kid from the Bronx. Acting is a way to express yourself. And it’s just plain fun.”

“Recently we’ve done mostly musicals, so this one is something different,” Aaron Saari said. “It seemed like a fun play.”

“When we talked about this play at home, we discussed how most of the plays they have been in have been mostly young actors,” said Denise Saari, the twins’ mother. “This was a great opportunity for them to be with more mature actors.”

Both boys hope to continue acting into adulthood as a hobby.

Guinevere Steensen plays Bella. She is returning to the stage after a 14-year hiatus.

“I love acting,” Steensen said. “I love being able to bring a character to life and give that energy and experience of living in a live story to an audience. I love to share that joy.”

Rehearsals started in February, and actors and behind-the-scenes volunteers have been hard at work ever since. Cast members and WaCPAC board members along with other volunteers have worked on everything from costumes and make-up to publicity, props and set design.

The award-winning play has much to offer theatergoers, according to Gonzalez. “’Lost in Yonkers’ takes a closer look at the influences we have on each other,” he said. “It demonstrates how to stand up for oneself and develop moxie and the ways that moxie can affect how one is treated by others.”

Tickets are $8 in advance online at www.wacpac.org/lost-in-yonkers/ and $10 at the door. High school students may purchase tickets at the door for a reduced rate of $5.

The play is recommended for patrons over the age of 12, due to mild adult language.

For any questions call 818-298-7308.

The Valley College Grange is located at 2411 Shreve Road in Wooster.


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