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Theater Group To Present 'Italian American Reconciliation'

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: November 15, 2008

The setting is New York's Little Italy, but the motifs in "Italian American Reconciliation" travel beyond regional borders.

"The themes are universal," said Mary Locarni, the play's director. "It's about maturing. It's about friendship. It's about love."

The work is now being presented by the Dunedin Showcase Theater in cooperation with the Dunedin Parks and Recreation Department. It will run through tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Dunedin Community Center.

The play is by noted playwright John Patrick Shanley, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning play "Doubt." Shanley won an Academy Award for writing the script for the 1987 Cher-Nicolas Cage movie "Moonstruck."

Shanley's track record was a factor in her group's choice of the play, Locarni said. Another was her own comfort with the setting. "Being a native New Yorker and Italian, it's easy to relate to the material."

"Italian American Reconciliation" concerns Huey Maximilian Bonfigliano's attempted reconciliation with his shrewish wife Janice. Huey enlists the aid of his friend Aldo Scalicki, who in a comic balcony scene that is one of the play's highlights, tries to persuade Janice to go back to her husband. Teresa, Huey's girlfriend, is an additional complication in the attempted reconciliation.

Mathew Eberius is the friend Aldo, and Jason Beck is Huey. Other cast members are LeAnn McDonald, Janice; Beth Adele Long, Teresa; and Wanda Dow, wise and funny Aunt May.

The play is a departure from the more traditional comedies by playwrights such as Moss Hart and Neil Simon, whose work the group has done in the past, Locarni noted. "This is more contemporary and offbeat," she said.

The play is only one of the ambitious projects planned by Showcase Arts Foundation, according to Creative Director Lil Barkaski.

The foundation is now working on becoming a nonprofit group in order to get grant money. It will continue with Showcase Theater in cooperation with Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to adult dramas, the group has a thriving children's theater.

It will add the Showcase Repertory Company for more adult, sophisticated works to be performed in small theaters and restaurants, and Risque Business, for vaudeville and burlesque-type acts.

The Improvables, an improvisation troupe, has performed in a few business and restaurant venues. It evolved out of the Showcase Theater actors' efforts to improve their acting skills through improvisation and is now a small band of actors who act out scenes suggested by the audience.

"We've found the more the audience participates, it makes it a lot better program," said Jason Beck, the leader of The Improvables.

Showcase Arts' second interactive murder mystery will be presented at Iris Family Restaurant in Dunedin next Saturday, Nov. 22. "Bedlam in the Boardroom" is written by Showcase Theater member Michael Cote and is the second interactive murder mystery Cote has penned for the group.

Cote advises attendees to put on their detective hats. "The audience is involved right from the beginning," he said.

The Lowdown

"Italian American Reconciliation" will be presented 7 p.m. tonight, Nov. 15, and 2 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 16, in the Music Room, Dunedin Community Center, 1920 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin. Tickets can be purchased at the Community Center or at the Hale Activity Center, 330 Douglas Ave. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. For ticket information call 727-812-4530.

"Bedlam in the Boardroom" will be performed 7 - 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22, at Iris Family Restaurant, 234 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. Show, dinner and one drink of beer or wine are $20. Call 727-734-0779 for reservations.

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