They're back!
No, not some alien lifeform or one-sequel-after-another movie monster.The wonderful characters who have returned to the Wasatch Front are the Fitzgeralds (Mama, Papa and the kids), Bishop Aden, nursemaid Belle Miller and other familiar friends from Silverlode, Utah Territory.
"Gentile" Tom Fitzgerald and his beloved Mormon sweetheart, "Tena Girl" - characters thousands of theatergoers grew to cherish in "Papa Married a Mormon" - are back to entertain us again with their homespun advice, family anecdotes and old-fashioned turn-of-the-century values.
After negotiating with the Fitzgerald family (in particular those involved with the two biographical books written by John D. Fitzgerald, who also authored the popular "Great Brain" series of children's novels), Norman Morris and Ralph G. Rodgers Jr. collaborated on "Mama's Boarding House," which moves the beloved Fitzgerald clan to Adenville following the death of Tena's husband, Tom.
Like its predecessor, which gently taught audiences about the love and sweetness that can develop between religious factions in a small town when there is tolerance and compassion instead of vindictiveness and spiteful gossip, there are many subtle lessons between the laughter and the tears in this world premiere presentation of "Mama's Boarding House."
Rodgers and Morris take some theatrical license in what could (and should) turn into an entire series of plays about the closeknit Fitzgerald family.
"Papa Married a Mormon" ended with Tom, publisher of Silverlode's weekly Advocate newspaper, succumbing to cancer.
For the sequel, Papa, attired in white western shirt, white denims and white cowboy boots, narrates the story and, when needs be, gets into a "guardian angel" mode.
"It's amazing how a man becomes so much better in everyone's eyes just because he dies," Papa tells the audience, while friends and family assemble in the church for his last rites. "Why, I got more credit for things I never did from people I never knew and for things I never said on occasions where I wasn't even present."
Papa's Will Rogers-ish observations provide witty insights into life in turn-of-the-century rural Utah.
With Papa's death, Mama is faced with several choices - some of which upset her offspring. During the play's next couple of hours, she ponders - even agonizes - over how to support herself and see that her children are educated (operating a "boarding house" was looked upon as considerably less-than-desirable by folks in those days). But Tena is also reluctant to sell her late husband's newspaper. What about Tom's reputation for fairness and integrity the community.
You know, of course, by the title (which was also the title of the book on which it's based) that Mama does, indeed, decide to go into the boarding house business.
This paves the way for introducing new characters into the mix - such as longtime family friend Mary Vincent; Steven Hackett, who comes to town with a business proposition; District Judge Dale Gibson, and a crusty retired seafarer, Capt. Alonzo Stang (whose Saturday night binges at the local tavern put Mama's claim to running a "respectable" boarding house to a test).
In live theater, there are character actors and there are actors who get to play characters. Scene-stealing Captain Stang is one. On opening night, the audience was treated Phil Edmunds' hilarious antics. On alternate nights, Allen Stoneman gets this delightful role.
The show is double-cast, but both ensembles feature many well-known, experienced Wasatch Front performers.
The version I reviewed had Cliff Cole and Ronda Wanberg as Papa and Mama. Cole (who alternates with Terrell Blackburn) does a fine job as the family's deceased patriarch, but Wanberg (trading off with Ruth Stoneman) really carries this show as it moves back and forth, via flashbacks and various anecdotal scenes
"Mama's Boarding House" will take you back to a time of small-town picnics, sweet romance, dancing to a wind-up Victrola in the parlor . . . even smoking those first roll-your-own cigarettes behind the barn.
It's good to have the Fitzgeralds back for an all-too-brief visit.
The show could still use some fine-tuning and a couple of performers in minor roles weren't quite up to speed on opening night, but it was nice to ring in the New Year with such an enjoyable production.
"Mama's Boarding House" deserves a "no vacancy" turnout. Who knows, maybe the Mama and her extended family will be back next year with even more adventures.