Steadstyle Chicago

Theatre Preview by Joyce Tumea January 28, 2010

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Grove Players' production is "More Fun Than Bowling"

Grove Players presents the comedy More Fun Than Bowling by Steven Dietz February 12 -21, 2010Go figure.  In baseball, a strike is a bad thing.  In bowling, it's a very good thing - the equivalent of a home run.  Even in bowling, though, a strike is "good" or "bad" depending on the point of view - whether the person who throws it is on your team or the other guy's.  Who knew bowling could so easily be a springboard for philosophical musings?  Apparently playwright Steven Dietz did.  Audiences can discover all the ways bowling is used as a metaphor for life in Dietz's comedy, "More Fun Than Bowling," being presented by Grove Players for two weekends, beginning February 12.

Grove Players is Downers Grove's community theater group, now in its 74th year.  Current president Marilyn Ludwig of Downers is also the director of this mid-season production.  Her assistant director is Nathanael Strauch of Lombard.  For Grove Players, Ludwig most recently directed "Over the Tavern."  She has taught and directed area young people for over thirty years; at present, she teaches theater at Herrick Middle School and is the director of Tree House Summer Theater.

Ludwig said she feels both challenged and excited about presenting "More Fun Than Bowling."  Dietz, the playwright, "is one of this country's most-produced contemporary playwrights," Ludwig said.  "He has written over twenty plays and is the recipient of many awards, including the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award, the PEN USA West Award in Drama.  He also received the 2007 Edgar Award for Drama, and his play, 'Last of the Boys,' which was produced by Steppenwolf, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize."

Not only does the playwright have an impressive resume, the play, itself, is very funny, Ludwig said.  The comedy is both situational and verbal.  "The dialogue is witty and priceless," Ludwig commented, "and the setting - a hillside with three graves and a lawn chair - is unusual."  The action of the story takes place on that hillside, which overlooks "a small, Midwestern town," Ludwig explained.  There the main character, Jake Tomlinson "reflects on his life and his loves."  He wanted to be a pianist, but ended up owning and running a bowling alley.

Ludwig said the theme of the piece is, simply put, that "stuff happens, and we have our superstitions about why it does - but we carry on, trying hard not to ponder too much over the road not taken."  "Quirky" is the word cast and crew use to describe the play, Ludwig said; "Just when you think the word should be 'absurd,' the dialogue becomes too profound, too philosophical for that judgment.  'Bowling's' major strength is its marvelous, well-drawn characters."

Cast members playing these characters are George McArdle of Schaumburg as Jake, Sean O'Neill of Naperville as the mysterious Mr. Dyson, Michelle Olejnik of Lisle as Loretta, Jake's third wife, and Susan O'Byrne of Downers Grove as Lois, Jake's second wife.  The role of Molly, Jake's daughter, has been double cast; Samantha Barry, a sophomore, and Lexy Raines, a junior, both Downers residents and students at Downers Grove North High School, alternate in that role.

"More Fun Than Bowling" will run two weekends, February 12 -21, with 8 p.m.  performances on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. matinee shows on Sundays, in the Lincoln Center auditorium, 935 Maple Ave. in Downers Grove.  Tickets are $14 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $8 for students.  They may be reserved ahead of time by calling 630-415-3682, purchased in advance at Consider It Done, 5133 Main St. in Downers Grove, or at the door.  More information may also be obtained by checking the website at www.groveplayers.org.