FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peter Caust,
201-615-0404
publicity@bcplayers.org
FAMILY ONSTAGE AND OFF IN THE BERGEN COUNTY PLAYERS PRODUCTION OF ARTHUR MILLER'S A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
Oradell, NJ, April 19, 2016 - One of American drama’s most intense family dramas is told by one of America’s greatest playwrights in the Bergen County Players staging of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. All performances take place at The Little Firehouse Theatre at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, home of NJACT's 2015 Community Theatre of the Year. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2 pm from April 30th to May 22nd, with the exception of no performance on Mother's Day, May 8th.
The family connection off-stage is between veteran director Jackie McElroy-Poquette and the leading actor, Andrew Lionetti, who is her son-in law. (Her husband, Ray Poquette, is also there behind the scenes as the lighting designer.) According to Jackie, and contrary to any pre-conceptions we all share about mothers-in-law, their working relationship couldn’t be better. “Of course,” she says, “it helps that Andrew is as professional an actor as you’ll find in any community theater production.”
The play, first mounted in 1956, has been an award-winner for best revival of a play here and in London in 1998, 2010 and just last year. It’s the story of Brooklyn longshoreman Eddie Carbone (Andrew Lionetti of Westwood) and his personal turmoil as he grapples with his attraction to, some might say obsession with, his orphaned young niece Catherine (Sarah Mason of North Caldwell) who lives with him and his wife, Beatrice (Meg Renton of Ringwood). Taking a cue from ancient Greek drama, Miller creates the character of Mr. Alfieri (Ted Odell of Warwick, NY), a lawyer who serves as an on-stage narrator. The play gains momentum as Eddie’s initially fatherly feelings toward Catherine change. Tension mounts with the arrival of her cousins Marco (Anthony Ventola of Oradell) and Rodolpho (Thomas Hoesly of Wyckoff), who are illegal immigrants from Italy, especially when Rodolpho begin dating Catherine without Eddie’s permission. Others in the talented cast include Mike (Richard Field of Cliffside Park), Louis (Ron Siclari of Oradell), and the Immigration Officers (David Luke of Mahwah and Richard Ciero of Oradell).
At the heart of the play is the theme of justice. Standard, by-the-book American justice comes face-to-face with the old-fashioned Italian “we’ll handle it ourselves” brand. According to Director McElroy-Poquette, audiences will be made to both think and feel and are likely to leave the theater with their heads spinning.
In addition to director McElroy-Poquette, the production team includes Rhea Smith (Producer, Set Décor and Program Notes), Margie McDonough (Assistant to the Director), Paul Reitnauer III (Stage Manager), Richard Field, David Luke, Richard Ciero and Ron Siclari (Crew), Michael Smith (Set Designer and Construction), Robin Johnson (Scenic Painting), Marisa Dolkart and Michelle Roth (Costumes), Joe Halajian (Sound Design), Ray Poquette (Lighting Design), Sandra Conklin and Marisa Dolkart (Lighting Operation) Rachel Alt (Props), James Dolan (Sound Operation), Michael Smith (Photography), and Ed Gross (Publicity).
TICKET AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION
The Bergen County Players has grown tremendously from its roots as a small community theater when it was founded in 1932; today, nearly 300 volunteer members, working on and off stage, make possible the nine productions presented each season. The remaining Second Stage productions is An Evening of One Act Plays (June 4th and 5th).
Further information can be found at www.bcplayers.org