'On Golden Pond' a treasured nugget of realistic theater

At times, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's production of "On Golden Pond" moves at what seems like a snail's pace.

But that slower pace is integral to the tone of Ernest Thompson's story - set over the course of a long, lazy summer. And the story does concern a couple in their twilight years, living out moments of quiet desperation and understated joy.

Thus, not appreciating the leisurely mood of this gentle story is a bit like complaining about a nice, thick novel being too long. Or a fine symphony having too many notes.

Thompson's 1979 play was first produced on Broadway, where it earned a Tony award for its lead actress and ran in two theaters for a total of 382 performances. Yet, the stage play has been completely overshadowed by the multiple Academy-Award winning 1981 film version starring Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn.

That's a shame, because Thompson's play, completed when he was only 28, is a finely crafted piece of realistic theater.

At its heart are Ethel and Norman Thayer, an elderly, long-married couple. They are charming and likable, and their story - really a slice of life during a summer spent in a vacation cottage on a small lake - is utterly believable. And at times quite charming.

This is especially true when the play is well cast and well directed, as is Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's current revival. Dean Gallagher and Loretta Hauser play Norman and Ethel, and from the start they have an onstage chemistry that makes them a delight to watch. They really seem like an old married couple.

That would be impressive enough, but Gallagher and Hauser accomplish something even harder in this production: They take roles that have become linked with two Hollywood giants, Fonda and Hepburn, and make them their own.

They have help, of course. The supporting cast is strong. Heather Townsend is a standout as the couple's middle-aged daughter. Her attempts to break through to her father who, she believes, wishes he had had a son, are particularly moving - without being in any sense sentimental.

Of course, the beauty of the whole production, seamlessly directed by Ann M. Shanahan, is how gracefully all concerned deal with material that, in less able hands, might seem mawkish or melodramatic.

Michael W. Moon's gorgeous gem of a set, reproducing the look and feel of a cabin in the woods, underscores the charm of the play and the production.

"On Golden Pond" proves that not every play has to be like an eager-to-please TV show - noisy, glib and fast-paced. "On Golden Pond" is for those who like to savor a sweet little show, filled with characters who remind us of people we know.