Grandma’s Got a Cheeky Secret -- and It’s Hilarious

What happens in a light-hearted comedy when Manhattan Grandma Sylvia Charles teams up with her visiting granddaughter Bridget and Sylvia's best pal, Vera, for a bawdy living room comedy? Belly laughs from beginning to end.

With its quirky premise and fun characters, this show brings a fresh, playful comedy to the local stage.

Subscribe

The top-notch cast at the Village Players of Hatboro is masterful at portraying a rather offbeat set of characters. Bridget (Victoria Rizzo) and her grandmother, Sylvia (Joy DiIenno), are about to become roommates in her grandma's apartment after her recent college graduation.

The young woman is expecting a calm, relaxing summer before starting law school. However, what Bridget sees as a unique opportunity to stay with her favorite nana in New York for the summer quickly turns into an experience she'll never forget.

It seems her sweet grandma – who is quite the astute businesswoman -- is running an illegal boutique from her rent-controlled apartment, selling handmade naughty knickers to every senior citizen in the five-borough area! She is assisted by her offbeat friend Vera (Suzy Hoffman), a woman equipped with two hearing aids and a walker.

The questions that need to be answered include: Will Bridget be able to handle all the excitement? Will her nana get arrested – or worse – evicted? Or somehow find a way out? You must attend an upcoming performance to find out.

DiIenno, who plays Grandma Sylvia, says that the play interested her because there were three parts for middle-aged women she could audition for at a time when these parts are few and far between.

"I like my character's confidence, her love for her granddaughter, the banter between her and Vera," she said. "It's a fun show; who doesn't want to spend a little time laughing."

Why does DiIenno encourage local folks to attend? "It's an inexpensive way to spend an evening or an afternoon being entertained," she added.

In the role of the visiting granddaughter, Bridget, Rizzo said she was attracted to this show because she loves comedy. " I thought the synopsis of NNK was hilarious and I wanted to challenge myself as a leading actor in a comedic play."

She said she appreciates "how relatable and caring Bridget is. She is constantly trying to keep the sinking ship afloat, all while making sure her grandmother is kept out of trouble! "

Rizzo encourages locals to come and see this show because it is extremely unique, among other reasons. "It's chaotic, humorous, and shows many different characters all in one memorable afternoon or evening."

For Rizzo, she is attracted to how open and honest community theater is," she added. "It truly takes a village to put on a show, and community theater takes the pressure off of performing, while making it a fun learning experience."

Written in 2010 by Katherine DiSavino, the show has enjoyed attention from numerous theater groups, including this summer at the Circle Theater.

The Hatboro production was expertly directed by Annalise Settefrati, and every single actor in this production was perfectly cast, including cranky landlord Gil Schmidt (Steven J. Niles), the adorable local cop on the beat, Tom (Emily Thompson), and UPS Men, (Michael Sammartino and Bob Alfeche).

Two hilarious latecomers in the show are Heather Van Pree (Sarah Lam) and Claire (Debbie Klinger). In Act 2, Lam's demeanor and Klinger's acting chops bring down the house.

"I love the intimacy of being in this close-knit community and performing in front of my friends and neighbors," said Klinger. "I greatly appreciate being able to have the opportunity to stretch my skills."

All of the performers as well as the dedicated crew admit that all of the rehearsal time was worth their effort, especially because it takes place close to home.

Nana's Naughty Knickers is community theater at its best, and a great time to support friends and neighbors from around the area!

Nana's Naughty Knickers continues performances on Friday, September 18, Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m., and Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, 26 at 7:30 p.m.

The rest of the season is a blend of drama and comedy and is worth checking out. For tickets and information, go to: https://www.thevillageplayers.com/