It's all about family as Kirk Players stages 'Morning's at Seven'
The Kirk Players have announced the final show in their 57th season, "Morning's at Seven," a gentle, bittersweet comedy by Paul Osborn.
Set in a small Midwestern town in the 1920s, the story centers on the intersecting lives of the four aging Gibbs sisters, Esther, Cora, Ida and Aaronetta. Cora and her husband, Thor, along with unmarried sister Aaronetta, live next door to sister Ida, her husband, Carl, and their 40-year-old son Homer.
Living just a few blocks away are eldest sister Esther and her husband, David. When Myrtle, Homer's long-suffering fiancé (they've been together 12 years, engaged for 7), arrives to meet the family for the first time, things change rapidly, revealing the fault lines lying beneath the surface of the families' seemingly idyllic lives.
Still, the play's central message of family acceptance, love, and devotion shines through.
"Everyone will see their family in this show," director Patrick Blake said. "Their grandmother, their aunt ... the younger generation will see their parents and their parents' siblings."
"It is about loyalty of family," said artistic director Gretchen Grassl, who also plays Cor. "They've gone through a lot together and they've living their history."
"It's your family - you gotta love them no matter how much they drive you crazy," said Betty Slack, who portrays Esther.
"Morning's at Seven" opened on Broadway on Nov. 30, 1939, but closed after only 44 performances. Subsequent revivals were more successful. A 1980 revival featuring Nancy Marchand, Maureen O'Sullivan, Elizabeth Wilson and Teresa Wright as the four sisters ran for 564 performances and won numerous Tony and Drama Desk awards, including the Tony Award for best revival of a play.
A second revival, with Elizabeth Franz, Frances Sternhagen, Estelle Parsons and Piper Laurie in the cast, opened on April 21, 2002, and ran for 112 performances, garnering several nominations for Tony and Drama Desk awards.
The Kirk Players cast includes Jim Stahl, Gretchen Grassl, Lynn Sciaraffa, Julie Brouton, Tom Gorman, Martin Hill, Monica Stark, Betty Slack and Randy Margison.
Backing up the cast are male understudy Lance Evans and female understudy Mandy Stebbins. The management team consists of director Patrick Blake, assistant director Nat Brautigam, stage manager Makenna Wald, assistant stage manager Lance Evans, technical director Amy Sharer and artistic director Gretchen Grassl.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10; and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 11. All performances will take place at Mundelein High School, 1350 W. Hawley St., Mundelein.
Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and older and $5 for ages 4-18.
Tickets may be purchased through the Kirk Players website, kirkplayers.org, or by calling (847) 521-6192. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.
Founded in 1966, the Kirk Players is a not-for-profit organization of volunteers whose mission is to enrich, educate and entertain the community and to give back to the community by supporting the arts and art programs.
Guided by the principles of diversity, equality and inclusivity, the Kirk Players always welcome new volunteers, offering opportunities for participating in theatrical activities, both on and offstage.
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