The Majestic, West Springfield
through February 10, 2013
by Shera Cohen
While reviews should primarily focus on production quality,
actors’ talents, and the director’s vision, it is sometimes difficult to set
aside a story’s shifting premise and the script’s cliché writing. Kristen van Ginhoven and her troupe of
excellent performers, unfortunately, have little to work with, although the
actors especially, pore themselves into the roles as much as can be possible.
Set in Canada in the 1980’s, with frequent flashbacks to a
decade earlier, are the adult members of the McKay family – Mr. & Mrs.
along with a brother and sister-in-law. It’s not an interesting bunch so their
conflicts are boring. Admittedly, the play revs up toward the end of Act I with
the presence of the town drunk, bringing with him the more important parts and
true essence of the story – the personal experiences of veterans and effects of
war. However, this element in the script is secondary. Not that the theme
should immediately hit the audience in the face, but it seems ancillary to the
plot.
Barry Press and Jeannine Haas in the lead roles are quality
actors portraying an old married couple who often take each other for granted.
Sam Rush’s character, arriving late in the play, realistically exemplifies
narcissism and meanness. John Thomas Waite, perhaps one of the finest actors
frequently seen on the Majestic’s stage, is given the role of the town drunk
which, for the most part, is played without individuality.
There are numerous distractions throughout, the most
frequent being one character’s constantly changing his shoes. Only two
off-handed lines in the script indicate his reason for this habit. It’s a guess
that this was a director’s choice that ended up being a nuisance.
Greg Trochlil continues to work magic on set design. The
kitchen/porch complete with essence of a roof is enough to depict an entire
house. Planks of wood and a dirty window create a work shed. This house becomes
a home that “real people” live in.
Perhaps the best part of the experience of “The Cabbage
Patch” was the full house in attendance on a Wednesday night. This speaks to
the reputation of the Majestic and its large following.
