'On Golden Pond' is fading classic on Huntington stage
By Art Thomas
happenings
Published Sept. 28, 2005

A long time ago, Ernest Thompson made a splash on the Broadway stage with his "On Golden Pond." Since then, it has been a "major motion picture" and has found a place in the "moldy classics" section of community and professional stages. The production on stage at Huntington Playhouse exposes some of the play's weaknesses and strengths.

Sally Smith and David Hundertmark are Ethel and Norman Thayer, an aged couple who each summer vacation at their Maine retreat…on Golden Pond. Norman is cranky and sarcastic, and Ethel is his patient and stalwart companion.

The play opens with the opening of the summer home and the visit by Chelsea, their childless daughter who was married once and now is bringing home her new fiancé, a dentist named Bill Ray. Along with Bill is his son, Billy, a hip 13-year old from California.

Act one of "On Golden Pond" is rapid fire, clever as heck humor, mostly in the form of one liners that each of the characters spout effortlessly and continuously. Not gentle comedy by any means; this is in the best tradition of a Neil Simon play.

In Act II, potty-mouthed Billy is relegated to spending a month with Ethel and Norman while his father and future mom vacation in Europe. Here the play does not live up to the premise, and everything bogs down a lot.

Eventually, "On Golden Pond" tries to be all things. It is poetic and lyrical with multiple references to the loons raising a young. It is a character study. It is a strong comedy, and a lesson driven story with Norman softening after a threatened heart attack and reconciliation with his daughter.

In the Huntington production, director Ron Newell is workmanlike and efficient. Hundertmark's Norman seems like a nicer man than Norman is intended to be, and his illness has no glimmer of reality. Smith didn't register with me as the stable core of the family. She's been stronger in just about every other role I've seen her in.

Mike Kunikis has the cool character role of Charlie the mailman and plays it well. Teri Drda catches some of the levels of frustrated daughter Chelsea, and Jeremy Warren is all grown up as thirteen year old Billy.

Acting-wise, the best performance of the evening is Dennis Sullivan as dentist Bill Ray. A carefully layered and studied characterization, Sullivan's is the character in this production who most seems to be a real person. His relationship with Chelsea is also the most believable in the production.

You'll laugh in Act I, fidget in Act II and probably compare it to the movie if you see this production of "On Golden Pond." It runs through October 9 at Bay Village's Huntington Playhouse.