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News
The Man Who Came to Dinner serves up a feast
By Adam T. Silva
Correspondent
As soon as the curtain opened last week, Old Rochester Drama Club Director Paul Sardinha and all who worked on the set of “The Man Who Came to Dinner” received the ultimate compliment: a unanimous gasp from the audience.
The attention to detail to the upper-class 1930s home was nothing short of flawless. From the furniture and rugs to the chandelier, the audience was quickly drawn into another place and time.
The audience gasped just as loudly a second time, as the curtain opened to the third and final act with a 6-foot tall, fully decorated Christmas tree.
Coby Williamson starred as the narcissistic and devious Sheridan Whiteside, a member of the New York elite and a popular radio announcer who dished the dirt on Hollywood’s rich and famous. Sheridan visits the home of rich factory owner Ernest Stanley in Mesalia, Ohio, for dinner and injures his hip slipping on ice outside their home.
He is confined to a wheelchair and is waited on hand and foot by the family and staff, much to their chagrin. Whiteside plays up the injury far longer than he should, but the family abides by him for fear of a lawsuit.
Williamson made the character come to life by not allowing Whiteside to have even a moment of hesitation in his self-importance. Whiteside is not a villainous man, but is so far removed from everyday life that being tirelessly waited on hand and foot suits him perfectly.
Williamson’s animated facial expressions gave the character the charm of a spoiled five year old. His constant screams for his nurse resembled a child screaming for his mother while faking being sick to stay home from school. The character also served as a device to further along the story, as Sheridan often spoke to himself while alone onstage, verbally analyzing how to manipulate the situation for his own benefit. The character is perfectly developed, as Whiteside takes much pleasure in tweaking things, and Williamson executed that perfectly.
Whiteside’s almost-tender side comes out as his long-time assistant Maggie, played by Jillian Zucco, threatens to leave him after falling for newspaperman Bert Jefferson, played by Spencer Johnson. Their relationship is not a romantic one, but Sheridan does care deeply for her. Zucco gave the character the spunk needed for her to finally stand up to Whiteside.
Whiteside knows how necessary Maggie is to his life and stops at nothing to keep her away from marrying Bert. He calls upon Lorraine Sheldon, played by Chelsie Nectow, an actress who is well-known for her seductive ways. Similar to “Whatever Lola Wants,” Sheldon is there to split apart Maggie and Bert.
Once Maggie becomes aware of Lorraine’s intentions, the tension between the two could be cut with a knife. Nectow and Zucco gave each other looks that would make Chuck Norris quiver in fear.
Nectow was hilarious while also commanding an enormous onstage presence. With the look of a golden-era movie star, she played the role of a temptress/actress similar to Ginger on “Gilligan’s Island.” Nectow made you believe Sheldon was someone you could see in a B-movie matinee.
Much of the comic relief came from bit parts, such as Nurse Miss Preene, played by Holly Gordon. Continually frustrated with Sheridan, she ends up leaving the nursing profession due to his behavior. Whiteside trembled in fear at the drunken June Stanley, played with hilarity by Holly Cardoza. The sporadic use of the character worked well, as Stanley randomly dropped into scenes, only to have “real use” to the play in the end.
Sheridan’s woman-chasing, wild-dressed and belligerent buddy Banjo, played by Matt Kaloplastos, gave further comic relief while tensions between the characters ran high.
Kaloplastos’ portrayal of the Harpo Marx-inspired role came off closer to Jack Lemmon in “Some Like it Hot.” His physical comedy was perfect for scenes with Whiteside stagnant in his wheelchair.
In the final act, Sheridan is finally forced to do what is right for Maggie. Whiteside finally vindicates himself and the Stanleys are ready to see him go. As he walks out the door, he finds another patch of ice and is brought inside with a look of horror on the Stanley’s faces as the curtain closes.
This ensemble cast put masterful spin on a classic tale, with an energetic performance matched with amazing costumes and set design. The ORRDC will perform “Thoroughly Modern Millie” March 26, 27 and 28.
Mark your calendar and save the date of Dec. 13, 2008 for this year’s 22nd Annual Holiday House Tour. The theme this year is “Sailing Into the Holidays.” Proceeds from the tour will be used to provide scholarship awards to Marion students seeking higher education. | | 
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Plum good time
ahead in Rochester By Andrea Smith
Correspondent
Music, history and the unique flavor of a farm community will all come together Saturday, Dec. 6 in Rochester’s Holiday Gathering.
A cooperative effort of the Plumb Corner Merchants Association, First Congregational Church, and Plumb Corner Library, the event will go from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The day will offer a broad scope of events for both children and adults.
“It’s kind of neat, that (the three groups) will be working together,” Library Director Gail Roberts said.
Santa will be there to enjoy hayrides with children. Mayflower Bank will host cookie decorating beginning at 10 a.m. The Hitching Post will feature craft projects for children. The children’s room at the Congregational Church will be converted to a child-sized Christmas shopping mall (no adults allowed) where items for sale will range from 25 cents to $2 in price. Gift wrapping will be free.
“Children will be able to shop for an entire family for $3 or less,” Ann Soares said.
The sanctuary of Rochester’s historic First Congregational Church will be open from 9:30-11:30 a.m. with music carols sung from hymn books. A duet by Pat and Charlie Tate will also be included in the musical presentation.
“It’s an Olde Fashioned Christmas Fair with old fashioned prices because we understand the economy,” Soares said.
Soares said the fair will include “a very famous bake table” with favorites such as Indian pudding and peanut butter bon bons. There will be extensive Christmas offerings with handmade decorations, including some crafted from fresh greens, and angels created during a workshop hosted by Marsha Anuszczyk. Old Fashioned Christmas ornaments from Poland will also be available for purchase.
Other tables will include hand made quilts and hand knit items and silk embroideries. Proceeds from the sale of the silk embroideries (made in Bangladesh) will help to support the church’s missionary work. Coffee and donuts will be available in the morning, and a mouth watering luncheon including Yvette Beaumont’s much-loved chicken soup and a variety of sandwiches will be offered around noon.
At the Plumb Corner Library there will be crafts for children. Two holiday story times have also been scheduled, one at 10:30 a.m. and another at 11:30 a.m.
The Plumb Corner Library will host an open house, beginning at 10 a.m. Refreshments, a silent auction, and a bake sale, described by library director Gail Roberts as “always yummy,” will be offered. Among the silent auction items will be a scrimshaw necklace, an original painting, hand knit items, and a brocade purse.
Earth’s Sisters organic products, soaps, skin lotions, and soy candles will be sold at the library during the open house, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Friends of The Library.
At the Plumb Corner Mall there will also be Christmas shopping opportunities at The Hitching Post, The Hair and Body Solution and Bev Loves Books.
Two authors will be signing their books at Bev Loves Books. C. J. West will be signing three fiction adventure books: Taking Stock, Sin and Vengeance and A Demon Waits. Jan Borenstein will be signing Beyond Beautiful, book one of a trilogy of a young adult fiction books.
“We’re thrilled this year that we are working together with the library and the church. It’s a nice community event. We’re also pleased that Matt Gurney’s restaurant will be open for the event,” Pierce said.
The Congregational Church Fair opens at 9:30 a.m. All other events will begin at 10 a.m.
 
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