No candy coating for this '50s family

It sure isn't "Leave it to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best."

"Over the Tavern," which the Big Noise Theatre Company of Winnetka is presenting at Prairie Lakes Theatre in Des Plaines, is the story of a real 1950s-era family which lives over the tavern they own and operate.

Here is a real family sharing the warmth, humor and frustrations that real families experience everywhere, in every decade.

The father in this family, Chet Pazinski, played by David Whitlock of Northbrook, certainly doesn't know best. He's always cranky and yelling at his beleaguered wife and children.

And the "Beaver"-like character in the play, 12-year-old Rudy, played by Brooks Whitlock, also of Northbrook, is not the mischievous, but beloved, type of character played by Jerry Mathers in that long-ago "feel good" television comedy.

Rudy Pazinski is a precocious, older-than-his-years boy who questions his family's values and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

Added into the mix is the ever-present Sister Clarissa who's preparing Rudy for his Confirmation, telling him that thinking is what gets him into trouble; "your instructions were to memorize!"

Ann Stuart of Evanston plays Sister Clarissa and also acts as house manager for the show.

"We present three shows each year and our artistic director, Nancy Flaster, chooses them, based on recommendations from our prospective directors," Stuart explained.

The director, Scott Sumerak, is an experienced actor and director who also teaches in the Skokie School District.

"We needed someone who is used to working with kids for this show because it casts so many kids," Stuart explained.

Stuart is full of praise for the show's lead child actor, 10-year-old Brooks Whitlock.

"This is only his second show but he is doing a great job," she said. "His memorization skills are unbelievable. He has a photographic memory and is feeding the rest of us our lines. And he has lots of confidence in himself. He is not overwhelmed by having to learn about Elvis and Ed Sullivan by watching them on YouTube because, of course, they are completely outside of his experience."

Other cast members include Kathie Keefe Howski of Riverwoods as Ellen, William Wilson of Morton Grove as Eddie, Olivia Palak of Lisle as Annie and Will Boersma of Skokie as Georgie.

If you go

What: Big Noise Theatre Company presents "Over the Tavern"

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m., Sundays, through Feb. 3

Where: Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines

Admission: $20, $18 for seniors and students, $12 for children 12 and younger

Call: (847) 391-5711