Actor's Community Theatre of Davie, Davie, Florida - May 2014
Directed by Geoff Short
Starring
Elli Murray as Bessie
Wendi Librach as Lee
Nadia Folic as Ruth
James Mobley as Hank
Larry Bressler as Dr. Wally
Bryan Germano as Charlie
Sherry Lifeset as Dr. Charlotte
Ron Pollack as Retirement Director/Bob
Directed by Geoff Short
Starring
Elli Murray as Bessie
Wendi Librach as Lee
Nadia Folic as Ruth
James Mobley as Hank
Larry Bressler as Dr. Wally
Bryan Germano as Charlie
Sherry Lifeset as Dr. Charlotte
Ron Pollack as Retirement Director/Bob
Marvin's Room is a powerful, moving and sometimes hilarious play that is the basis of the Oscar-nominated film starring Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio. A loving middle-aged woman, caring for her elderly father and aunt calls on her estranged sister for support in a time of crisis. The results are unpredictable, riveting and poignant.
Geoff's Director's Note:
Families are weird. If you’re in one, you already know that. We love each other. We can’t stand each other. We’re together every day. We’re separated by years and miles. We heal each other. We hurt each other.
Marvin’s Room is a story about a family like this. It focuses on two estranged sisters who are forced to come together in the face of disease. Bessie has been dealing with single-handedly caring for their ailing father and elderly aunt. Lee has made a conscious choice not to, but is dealing with two young sons, one of which has been committed to a mental institution – sorry – loony bin, for burning their house down.
Hilarious. No, really.
When we consider plays with themes like Marvin’s Room examines like life and death and disease, it’s easy for us to become sullen and morose. But Marvin’s Room is not.
It has been written about Marvin’s room that the play is a balancing act between the hilarious and the tragic. All of us involved in this production have certainly found this to be true. We have had to explore our own family experiences, sickness, joy and pain and the absolute hilarity of absurd family situations that are so often the reality of family life. From Bessie’s bumbling doctor who can’t remember anyone’s name, to Aunt Ruth’s pain pump that accidentally opens the automatic garage door every time she presses it, Marvin’s Room playwright Scott McPherson expertly navigated the comedy and tragedy that is life in a real family dealing with life and death issues – literally. So we have had to navigate so many emotions and experiences too. Bringing this story to you has changed our act from balancing to juggling. Juggling so many feelings – often with what has felt like razor sharp knives or burning torches, trying to keep them all in the air at once.
And the amazing performers you’re going to see on stage have never dropped a single one.
It has been a joy and honor to work with these artists - onstage and off - to create this production. They are brave and brilliant. Thanks to everyone who made this production happen. We have become our own dysfunctional theatre family in telling the story of the family of Marvin’s Room.
And you thought your family was screwed up.
- Geoff Short
Families are weird. If you’re in one, you already know that. We love each other. We can’t stand each other. We’re together every day. We’re separated by years and miles. We heal each other. We hurt each other.
Marvin’s Room is a story about a family like this. It focuses on two estranged sisters who are forced to come together in the face of disease. Bessie has been dealing with single-handedly caring for their ailing father and elderly aunt. Lee has made a conscious choice not to, but is dealing with two young sons, one of which has been committed to a mental institution – sorry – loony bin, for burning their house down.
Hilarious. No, really.
When we consider plays with themes like Marvin’s Room examines like life and death and disease, it’s easy for us to become sullen and morose. But Marvin’s Room is not.
It has been written about Marvin’s room that the play is a balancing act between the hilarious and the tragic. All of us involved in this production have certainly found this to be true. We have had to explore our own family experiences, sickness, joy and pain and the absolute hilarity of absurd family situations that are so often the reality of family life. From Bessie’s bumbling doctor who can’t remember anyone’s name, to Aunt Ruth’s pain pump that accidentally opens the automatic garage door every time she presses it, Marvin’s Room playwright Scott McPherson expertly navigated the comedy and tragedy that is life in a real family dealing with life and death issues – literally. So we have had to navigate so many emotions and experiences too. Bringing this story to you has changed our act from balancing to juggling. Juggling so many feelings – often with what has felt like razor sharp knives or burning torches, trying to keep them all in the air at once.
And the amazing performers you’re going to see on stage have never dropped a single one.
It has been a joy and honor to work with these artists - onstage and off - to create this production. They are brave and brilliant. Thanks to everyone who made this production happen. We have become our own dysfunctional theatre family in telling the story of the family of Marvin’s Room.
And you thought your family was screwed up.
- Geoff Short
Photos by Geoff Short
Set Design & Lighting by Geoff Short
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CLICK TO WATCH THE CHAUVET DJ GIG LAB FEATURING MARVIN'S ROOM LIGHTING!
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Geoffrey Short
Northeast Ohio Entertainer
Northeast Ohio Entertainer