Forestburgh Playhouse opens with a bang

By TOM KANE

FORESTBURGH — For reasons of conflicting deadlines, I’m not able to do a complete review of “Damn Yankees,” the first production of the Forestburgh Playhouse this season. But after experiencing three hours of the Monday night technical rehearsal, I can tell you that, based on the first act, the production is a smash.

The tech staff and cast of “Damn Yankees” were working out, in a stop-start fashion, the kinks of the new production and it was fascinating to watch their creative process.

In fact, in some ways, it was more exciting than seeing a full, continuous production with the kinks all ironed out. I find kinks interesting.

Watching Mark Hardy, for example, who plays Mr. Applegate, aka the Devil, transform himself in and out of his role so deftly, as the stage manager, Alison Dingle, interrupted the flow over and over to get the details right, was a sight to be seen.

Hardy, who has a long stint of roles under his belt, showed himself the consummate, veteran actor who is easily directed.

The cast was working around a young actor, who had just received the unfortunate news that his father had suddenly died. The young actor simply couldn’t go on. Despite the gap in the ensemble, the cast went on doing an incredible job acting, singing, dancing, clowning, energizing all over the stage even though their hearts were heavy sharing the grief of one of their members.

That’s professionalism of the highest kind, and that’s the kind of people that Norman Dutweiller, the producer and inspiration of the playhouse, rounds up every season. That’s why his productions are an artistic and financial success.

When you go to the playhouse to see “Damn Yankees”—and make sure you do—you’re going to love Kathleen Conry playing Meg Boyd, Sean Robert Griffin playing Joe Hardy, the baseball star, Scott Hayward playing Joe Boyd, playhouse veteran Michael Iannucci play Van Buren (You’ve Got to Have Heart) and Kristin Maloney as the vamp, Lola, (Whatever Lola Wants Lola Gets).

Director/Choreographer Reed Farley never lost control of what he wanted to see happen as he jumped up on to the stage over and over, stopping the action, urging the actors to get as close to perfection as possible.

I’ll be returning to see the whole show. Hope to see you there.

For more information call 845/794-1194.