Noble Fool 's 'Over theTavern' needs more family time

Posted February 16, 2010 10:00 pm

By Scott C. Morgan

A heavy dose of nostalgia is what undoubtedly spurs a chorus of audience laughter for Tom Dudzick's "Over the Tavern." This 1994 comic drama will resonate particularly with those who went to Catholic school, but it's universal enough for anyone to identify with.

Noble Fool Theatricals delivers a handsome production of "Over the Tavern," and its serious turns into darker territory make for a refreshing change to the normal diet of sunny musicals typically served up at Pheasant Run Resort.

"Over the Tavern" is about the six-member Pazinski clan who are living above (you guessed it) a family-owned tavern in Buffalo, N.Y. Strategically set just before the Second Vatican Council in 1962, the story shows that some much-needed changes in this family and their Catholic community are also going to happen.

Each family member gets his or her due, but "Over the Tavern" largely focuses on 12-year-old son Rudy (Gabriel Harder) who chafes against the authority of teacher nuns and his father's easily ignited temper.

Since Rudy is a disruptive kid who has the gall to question Catholic dogma, he gets much grief from the ruler-swatting Sister Clarissa (Renee Matthews) in detention. Watching Harder and Matthews' characters verbally parry and jab each other over issues tied to his upcoming confirmation is a delight.

If only the rest of the cast lived up to the level that Harder and Matthews establish (though Daniel Velisek as the Pazinski's mentally challenged son, Georgie, is spot on with his comic cuss-word outbursts).

The ensemble is all very good in an understated, naturalistic way. But director John Gawlik could have guided his ensemble to raise the emotional tension and character quirks up a few notches to be much more distinctive.

For all of the script's buildup about the easy-to-enrage father, Scott Cummins' performance as Chet Pazinski comes off as muted at times. When Chet is provoked, you need to get the fear that his anger will make him strike first before asking questions. Cummins raises the volume when necessary, but it feels controlled.

Stacy Stolz's matriarchal turn as Ellen also could have used more starch and sarcasm. A voice-of-reason diplomacy is a requirement for Ellen, but Stolz's straightforward take occasionally comes off as generic.

As the eldest and hormone-buzzed Pazinski kids, Alex Adams and Katrina Syrris need more "fear of God" and "fear of Dad" terror to show through in their performances as teenagers Eddie and Annie.

Adams in particular needs to modulate his performance of Eddie to higher levels, especially when he has a verbal blow up with his father. As the scene is played now, it comes off like Eddie is just visiting the neighbors instead of taking a defiant stand by refusing to live under his father's roof.

These concerns probably won't matter much to first-time "Over the Tavern" viewers, who should be entranced by Dudzick's mix of laugh-out-loud humor and moments of redemption and forgiveness. And Noble Fool's period production elements by set designer Ian Zywica, costumer Kimberly G. Morris and lighting designer Yousif Mohamed should exceed audience expectations.

But fans of "Over the Tavern" will know that Noble Fool's acting ensemble can bring more to the material. Perhaps with time, this assembled Pazinski family will gel into a more distinctive and cohesive Catholic clan.

Sister Clarissa (Renee Matthews) makes a rare home visit to administer some punishment to Rudy (Gabriel Harder) in front of his conflicted parents, Chet (Scott Cummins, far left) and Ellen (Stacy Stoltz, far right).

"Over the Tavern"

★ ★ ★

Location: Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles (630) 584-6342 or noblefool.org

Showtimes: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Extra 2 p.m. shows March 4 and 11; through March 28

Running time: About 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission

Tickets: $29-$39; dinner packages available

Parking: Free parking adjacent to the theater

Rating: Some swearing and acknowledgment of a teenage boy looking at girlie magazines

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