Review: 'Good Morning' by the Warner Stage Company

TORRINGTON, CT - The Warner Theatre's production of GOOD MORNING by Anne Lucas of Massachusetts premiered on Friday, 1/15 at 7:00 pm. This installment is the sixth production in the Warner Theatre 9th Annual International Playwrights Festivaland is directed by Sharon W. Houk.

GOOD MORNING is about Alex, Marie’s middle-aged son who is shocked when he sees his mother in dishabille with a man. She is over 60, so how can she have a boyfriend? Marie lets him know it is the life she has chosen, and she is not accountable to her children.

The playwright Anne Lucas holds an MFA from BU and a second MFA in Writing for Stage and Screen from Lesley University and has built a body of work as a playwright. She has directed and taught for over 30 yrs.

The inspiration for this play was seeing her own daughters reduce their “me” to a function. She did the same thing when her mother received a huge national award for her teaching. Ms. Lucas writes: "I said what are they going to say “good mother”? It seems to be very hard to see your mother as a person." I can certainly relate to the fact that children are not easily impressed by their mother's accomplishments, so I found this piece both relevant and funny.

For the virtual playbill for the entire festival, please visit https://www.warnertheatre.org/wtipf_playbill.html

The two actors in this short play are so convincing that if I hadn't known better, I would have thought that they were actually mother and adult son.

The cast is comprised of two community theatre veterans. Susan Hackel is perfectly cast as Marie, a mature lady who knows what she wants, despite what her offspring may think. The actress reports that she is thrilled to participate in her second role in the International Playwrights Festival. She has appeared in many Warner Stage productions including MAMMA MIA!, THE FULL MONTY, THE ADDAMS FAMILY (as a memorable Grandma Addams), FOLLIES, RAGTIME, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Yente), and SUNSET BOULEVARD. She has also been active in other area theaters where she appeared in BIG RIVER (Mrs. Watson), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ANNIE, SISTER ACT (Sister Mary Lazarus) and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Ma Bailey).

Susie will be retiring as a reading specialist this spring, a position she has held for 24 years. I wish her a wonderfully long, healthy and well-deserved retirement.

Eric Lindblom (pictured above) embodies the role of the adult and somewhat straight-laced son Alex; although he may not approve of his mother's personal affairs, he is truly concerned about her safety. Mr. Lindblom is an English teacher from Bristol and I wish him a healthy conclusion to another school year. He is the wonderful host of "Backstage" on WZBG; I had the honor of being interviewed by Mr. Lindblom and I seldom miss his show on Saturday mornings at 9am.

Eric has appeared in several Warner Theatre productions over the last five years, including SOMETHING ROTTEN (Thomas Nostradamus), AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (Philip Lombard), and HELLO, DOLLY! (Cornelius Hackl). Eric has also appeared in several Goshen productions, including TITLE OF SHOW (Jeff), IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU (Marty Kaufman), and FIRST DATE (Man #1).

This play includes some original music by James P. Luurtsema entitled "Enlightenment." The videography was done by Jeffrey B. Schlichter.

GOOD MORNINING will remain available for viewing on the Warner's YouTube channel and Facebook page until 1/28 at 11:59 pm. There is no fee to watch but donations are always accepted. This virtual festival is made possible with a generous donation from The Marine Family.

Review of PUT ON A GRUMPY FACE

Review of DIRECTIONS

Review of 'AN INVITATION TO MY CIRCUS' and 'ANALOG'

The remaining schedule for the winning playwrights:

PERMANENT INK by Charlene Donaghy, CT (1/29-2/11)
FOLDED by Bara Swain, NY (2/12-2/25)
EXTENDED PLAY by Ben Marshall, NJ (2/26-3/11)
RELATIVITY AND ME by Len Cuthburt, Ontario, Canada (3/12-3/25)
MOTHERHOOD by Lawrence Aronovitch, Ontario, Canada (3/26-4/8)
SAUL by Colleen O'Doherty, NE (4/9-4/22)

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions in a normal theatre year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites.

Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.