The Catskill Community Players, now in their 43rd season, present the heartwarming family comedy “Mom’s Gift” by Phil Olson, at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester, on April 21st & 22nd at 8 pm, preceded by an optional special theater dinner at the Worcester Inn across the street, with a 2 pm matinee show on Sunday, April 23rd followed by dinner at the Worcester Inn.
In this comedy with a heart, Mom (played by Nancy Bondurant-Couch, CCP Director, and theater teacher at SUNY & Hartwick) has been dead for 11 months and shows up at her husband’s birthday party as a ghost with a mission. The husband is being played by a 20 year veteran of the CCP stage & local favorite, Dr. Ben Friedell.
Like Clarence in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Mom has to accomplish a task to earn her wings. Only what the task actually is, is a mystery. There are so many things to fix. The problem is complicated by the fact that the only person who can hear or see Mom is her daughter, Kat, played by SUNY theater major, Lisa Hornick. Kat has been ordered by the court to spend Dad’s birthday with him as part of her Anger Management Program.
One by one, the family’s secrets are peeled away revealing a shocking truth that surprises even our ghost. The cast is filled out with Danielle Purdy playing Kat’s ditzy sister, “Brittney”, Roxanne Rippa playing family friend “Trish”, Casey Thomas playing Kevin, and Bhala Jones playing the nosey neighbor Mrs. Norquist.
Director Shadow LaValley was a theater major at SUNY Oneonta, and he is supported by a strong creative team, including Nancy Bondurant-Couch & Diana Friedell as Producers, with assistance by Dylan Thompson, Sapphira Koerner as Stage Manager assisted by Amethyst Gardner, Taylor Clark designing costumes, and Andy Frank as set designer.
Purchase Advance tickets for the Play only ($18 & $15 for Sr. Citizens) online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/catskill-players-presents-moms-gift-tickets-33265459886, or if Dinner + Play Ticket is preferred, make Reservations for the special rate of $42, $39 for Sr. Cit. by calling the Worcester Inn at 607-397-8500. Tickets are also available at the Door at the Wieting Theatre, starting one hour before performance times. For more information find Catskill players on Facebook (Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65056613773/)
“A humorously poignant and thought provoking story… Touching and hysterical in turns…Heartwarming and compelling…This story is a heartfelt cross between family dynamics, the loss of a loved one, and the power of love.” -Tolucan Times
The Catskill Community Players and the Wieting Theatre are thankful to be the recipients of a 2017 Otsego County Community Events Grant.