Family Roles Explored in Tipping Point's Newest Play

A lot can happen during the course of The Cocktail Hour.

In the ’s latest production of that name, the roles played in a family are explored. And during the course of one visit, they are challenged and put to the test, all within the context of a comedy.

The play, written by A.R. Gurney, takes place in the living room of an affluent family over drinks during its coveted predinner ritual. Many, many drinks. It begins with the return of the family’s eldest son, John, who comes to his parents with news about his play—which is based on the family, namely his father. John seeks his father’s permission to put on the play. His permission, and seemingly underlying approval, are rebuffed.

The sometimes-latent, sometimes-not tension between John, played by Brian P. Sage, and his father, played by Thomas D. Mahard, drives the story.

"It's a different role for me," Sage said. "I've played characterish-type guys. This guy's based more on reality."

The role of John's mother is performed by Julia Glander, and his sister is played by Angela Kay Miller.

The four-person cast, who talked with Northville Patch after their Saturday performance, found the theme to be universally applicable to any family.

“It reminded me a lot of my father,” Mahard said of his character. “I thought a lot about my father. … My parents always had a cocktail hour. There was something about this that really struck home.”

Miller also found her own family in Gurney’s characters.

“I have four siblings,” she said. “I have a really close family. … It was kind of easy for me to find my place in this family.”

Of her onstage family, Miller said she likes to joke that “we put the fun in dysfunctional.”

Glander, who won an award for a previous performance at the Tipping Point, said she was attracted to her role because the character is so multidimensional, as is revealed through the course of the play.

“I love the play. I think it’s smart and funny,” Glander said. “I hope (the audience) finds some tiny kernel of recognition.”

Elaine Lepak of Livonia caught a showing Sunday.

"There's nothing like a live performance," she said. "It captured us all. It was just so insightful. I like the characters and I like the family."

Anna Weidner of Livonia agreed.

"I think it stimulated within a lot of people thinking about their own families," she said.