"Over the River and Through the Woods" On Stage in Hanford

by Louella Moreland

Bruce Kakick playing Frank

Over the River and Through the Woods by playwright Joe DiPietro is fascinating romp of generational relationships, full of the humor, the heart of family...and food. Nick, a single young man, sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner. When he tells them he's been offered a job that will require him to move across the country, they begin a scheme to keep Nick around which includes inviting the loving, single Caitlyn to dinner.

Richard Garibay is playing the dashing grandson Nick Cristano while Petra Carter is portraying Caitlyn O'Hare. Actors Bruce Rakick and Debbie Walker pair up to make grandparents Frank and Aida Gianelli. The Cristano grandparents are Joseph Katz playing Nunzio and Jeanne Ball as Emma. Louella Moreland is directing and Kylee Robinson is assistant directing. The cast and crew are from all over the Central Valley and Kings Players is quite excited to be drawing participants from as far away as Tulare.

Director Louella Moreland reflects that having grown up close to both sets of her own grandparents, she understands first-hand the need to stretch your wings to fly from the nest; and then upon having grown children, better understanding the difficult and conflicting feelings that come from letting your loved ones move away. "I believe our audiences will feel this message resonating within their own hearts as well. 'Tengo familia!' as Frank Gianelli would say."

Joseph Katz and Jeanne Ball as Nuncio and Emma

The Kings Players' production of Over the River and Through the Woods runs May 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 31 and June 1, 2, 7, 8, 9. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. Doors open half an hour before performances.

The Temple Theatre is located at 514 E. Visalia Street, Hanford. Tickets can be purchased at www.kingsplayers.org or by calling (559) 582-7241. Seating is limited, so arrange for your tickets soon.

If you love local theatre, be sure to check out our new Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. The first 19 episodes are now up! You can check the podcast out on iTunes and Google Play, and also on podbean. A new episode just went up this week!

Terrance V. Mc Arthur is a Librarian in Fresno County, California. He is also a storyteller, puppeteer, magician, and maker of pine needle baskets. On top of that he writes stories that range from rhymed children's tales to splatterpunk horror. He's an odd bird, but he's nice to have around.