“Ordinary People,” a play about a family dealing with the sudden loss of a loved one, creates a true emotional connection for those who present the play at PawPac, a community theater in Poway.
The play opens Friday and runs until April 14th. Ordinary People, written by Nancy Pearl Gilsenan, is based on the four-time Academy Award-winning 1980 film and the popular 1976 novel by Judith Guest. Both have the same name.
Set in the 1980s, Ordinary People focuses on the Jarrett family (parents Cal and Beth and son Conrad) and how they deal with their grief over the accidental death of their eldest son Buck and Conrad's subsequent suicide attempt. The focus is on what to do.
Julia Smith, who co-directed PawPac's “Conversations'' last fall, will write “Conversations'' and Brent A. Stringfield, who was selected to direct “Ordinary People'' last year, will be directing “Ordinary People'' on January 4th. Following his death, I was asked to direct this play. ”
“Ordinary People” producer Lynn Woolsey said Stringfield, PawPac's board president, former artistic director and volunteer for decades, died due to complications following a medical procedure. He died suddenly at the age of 56.
His family requests that memorial donations be made to PawPac. Donation links can be found at powpac.org.
Mr. Wolsey's assistance was invaluable, Mr. Smith said.
“Lynn Woolsey has assembled a strong team of sets, lighting, sound, costumes and props,” Smith said. “They have created an original framework, and I have found this to be very accurate and I am blessed with a cast of cast members who have been overwhelmingly positive in the face of a desperately difficult situation.”
Smith said the play is aimed at adults and is definitely not suitable for anyone under 13 due to its depiction of mental turmoil, discussion of suicide and strong language.
“In terms of the theme of the piece, it's really interesting to produce this kind of content at a time when we're actively grieving the death of our friend Brent,” Smith said. “This is a productive way for the broader PowPAC community as we all collectively heal and overcome our grief.”
Ms. Smith said she cast the play just weeks after Ms. Stringfield's death. Includes many PowPAC veterans and some newcomers to the PowPAC stage.
The veterans are Jeffrey Graeme, Linda England, Lucinda Moaney, Nicholas A. Castillo, Morgan Miller, and substitute Richard Kaika. Newcomers are Stephen Pickens, Jeanine Domaor, Benjamin Jacob, and Anand Vyas.
“This cast was so kind and fun to work with,” Smith said. “I couldn't be more pleased to have had this experience. There are positive things happening in this room.”
Smith credits Linda Englund (who plays Beth) and Lucinda Moany (who plays the therapist in the play) with helping the cast develop a mindset to realistically portray the emotions needed on stage. (real-life therapist who plays Dr. Berger), and intimacy coordinator Elle Miller.
“The entire Paw Pack community was grieving throughout rehearsals,” Smith said. “Fortunately, art is an incredibly productive process.”
“The people who came into our rehearsal room were deeply moved by this production because of Brent and because they could identify with these characters,” she said.
PowPAC's small stage and physical limitations complicate staging shows in multiple settings. Smith praised Joel and Shelley Colborn for creating the “inventive” set and lighting design by Mark Zettler. By combining the sets and lighting, there are four simultaneous scenes on stage and the cast can move quickly between them.
Scenes include the family home, therapist's office, and locker room.
The production team also includes Steve Murdoch (sound), Margaret Jackson-Dill (costumes), Gail Matson (props), and stage managers Deanne Theodore and Freya Spencer.
“Ordinary People” can be seen from March 22 to April 14 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There will also be Saturday matinees at 2pm on March 30th and April 13th.
Tickets are $26 for adults. $24 for seniors, students, and active military. For groups of 10 or more people attending the same performance, the fee is $22. Contact us at powpac.org or call 858-679-8085.
PowPAC is located on the second floor of the Lively Center at 13250 Poway Road. If you would like to avoid the stairs, please use the elevator at the back of the building.