'Time of the Cuckoo' Sweeps Audience Away to Venice, Italy

Where does an American spinster in the 1950s go to find her dreams of romance and fulfillment? Italy, of course.

Venice to be exact. A city of gondolas, music and handsome Italian men. Leona Samish does exactly that in the 1950s romance “The Time of the Cuckoo” by Arthur Laurents. Sadly, Leona discovers there is a vast difference between dreams of love and what love actually delivers to your door. To make matters worse Leona must struggle with the clash between middle class American values and those of post WWII Italy.

captures these clashes with lighthearted humor that makes Leona's struggles even more poignant.

Beth Goncher does an excellent job as the cheerful independent Leona. Goncher's performance shows us that beneath her sunny smile there is a devouring hunger for love, acceptance and just plain company.

Yet when love comes to the door, she mistrusts it. “No one could possibly be interested in me without an ulterior motive,” seems to be her hardened conviction. It doesn't help that her potential lover is a middle-aged, financially struggling shop keeper instead of a young, rich prince.

The 'not Prince Charming' lover, Renato DiRossi, is magnificently played by Steve Fiorito. That Renato is handsome, suave and passionate can be seen at first glance, but Fiorito's portrayal, also, shows us the simple shop keeper who, like Leona, is hungry for some romance in his own life. His passionate yet patient wooing of the skittish, hungry yet fearful Leona would melt the Alps.

The central romance is supported by an eclectic mix of characters. June (Jill Orr) and Eddie Yeager (Brent Miller) are a young American couple who've come to Europe so Eddie can paint. Except he doesn't do as much painting as he does flirting.

Miller's wry facial expressions speak volumes about what Eddie is really thinking and where his interest truly lies. Orr plays his hovering, overly solicitous wife to the hilt. When she announce that she must be her man's “Everything” we know her relationship is heading for some rocky waters.

The other guests at the pensione, Mr. and Mrs. McIllhenny (Jim Scott and Sharon Pagoria) are everything embarrassing about Americans abroad. Loud, ethnocentric and obsessed with shopping, the two could easily become ridicules. Scott and Pagoria, instead, make them endearing. We smile when they come onstage and laugh as they leave.

Signora Fiora (Lynn Meredith) watches all these love games and even plays a few of her own. Meredith is marvelous as the worldly wise hostess who understands that idealized dreams of love and marriage aren't real. No one in the audience doubts for a second that the signora cares for her guests, but views them all as silly children who have yet to learn to take happiness where they can get it.

The love sick, giddy maid, Giovanna, played by Kelly Cash and the streetwise young hustler, Mario, played by Brandon Miller complete the cast. Cash provides delightful comic relief with her incomprehension of English and, later, with her hungover housekeeping. Miller makes his debut with “Time of the Cuckoo.” We look forward to seeing him in future productions.

Director Daina Giesler put together a wonderful cast that sweeps the audience away to Italy for an evening of romance and day dreams. Designer Julie Szeszol Kinsey captures romantic Venice with her charming sets and lighting. Szeszol's costumes, however, deserve special mention. Many made from scratch, the costumes capture the lost era of the 1950s with brilliant colors and beautiful fabrics.

“Time of the Cuckoo” is playing for one more weekend at 123 W. Washington St.  below the .