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Purple Rose Theatre’s ‘Morning’s at Seven’ captivating, humorous, delightful

Courtesy photo. The family wonders what Carl Bolton (Hugh Maguire) will do next?
Courtesy photo. The family wonders what Carl Bolton (Hugh Maguire) will do next?

By Crystal Hayduk

The Purple Rose Theatre Company (PRTC) closes its 25th anniversary season with “Morning’s At Seven,” a captivating comedy set in a small, Midwest town in 1938. According to Michelle Mountain, the show’s director, it’s “full of heart and humor and love.”

The folksy three-act play covers two transformative days in the life of four sisters. Cora and her husband, Thor, along with spinster Aaronetta, who has resided with them for 40 years, live next door to Ida and her husband Carl. Ida and Carl are parents to Homer, who still lives at home at the age of 40.

The oldest sister, Esther, lives a block and a half away with her husband, David. Esther steals frequent visits with her sisters, which antagonizes David, a retired college professor, because he considers her family to be “a bunch of morons.”

Punctuating the sisters’ mundane existence is the eagerly anticipated arrival of Myrtle Brown, Homer’s patient and hopeful girlfriend of 12 years. The sisters share their curiosity about the woman’s relationship with Homer and speculations about the future.

Adding tension to Myrtle’s arrival, Carl has one of his spells, when he questions his place in life and expresses his desire “to go back to the fork.” And, David reacts to finding Esther at Cora’s house against his wishes.

The actors seem real in their portrayals. The four sisters are delightful. Ruth Crawford expresses Cora’s deepest desires in a heartfelt way. Franette Liebow shows Ida’s meekness and concern. Susan Craven does a fine job of portraying Esther with the balance of strength and fortitude necessary to meet her needs while attempting to preserve her marriage. Finally, Laural Merlington’s characterization of Aaronetta is hilarious and memorable.

Courtesy photo. Morning gossip on the back porch. (Left to right): Thor Swanson (Richard McWilliams), his wife, Cora (Ruth Crawford) and her sister, Aaronetta Gibbs (Laural Merlington).
Courtesy photo. Morning gossip on the back porch. (Left to right): Thor Swanson (Richard McWilliams), his wife, Cora (Ruth Crawford) and her sister, Aaronetta Gibbs (Laural Merlington).

The husbands in the play are strong supporting characters. Richard McWilliams as Thor tries to be a voice of reason and Hugh Maguire calmly plays the introspective Carl. Tom Whalen’s character of David is pompous, but still likeable when seen through the eyes of his brothers-in-law.

Myrtle (Rhiannon Ragland) and Homer (Rusty Mewha) are quite a pair and both so mild-mannered that it’s understandable that they haven’t cemented their relationship in 12 years. Homer is loyal to his family to a fault, but also prone to anxiety. The audience roared in laughter when he asked his mother, “If I were to marry Myrtle, do you think I’d get used to her?”

Adding to the thoughtful script and characterizations are the fine details that Purple Rose’s designers get right. From the music and period-appropriate costumes to subtle lighting changes that take the audience from morning to evening and back again, the stage is set for 1938.

The set design is homey – complete with two back porches, chairs for visiting, a manicured lawn with posies, and a tree for leaning against when life feels hard. The look is made complete with the backdrop scene painted on clapboard siding.

“Morning’s At Seven” asks the universal questions of mature adulthood. Where am I? What’s life all about? Have I been successful? Do I still have unachieved goals? Is it possible to change anything now?

Even if you’ve never left the neighborhood you grew up in, these questions are an integral part of aging. The answers reveal our feelings and attitudes about ourselves and our relationships.

Visit the Gibbs sisters. Sit a spell and have a laugh over a cup of coffee or a lemonade. No matter where you’ve been or where you are, they’ll tell you that it’s nice and peaceful at home.

Playwright Paul Osborn (1901-1988) received inspiration for the characters in “Morning’s At Seven” from his family and neighbors during his childhood in Kalamazoo. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he studied playwriting at Yale. Included among his many theatre and screenplay credits are “The Vinegar Tree,” “On Borrowed Time,” “The World of Suzie Wong,” “South Pacific,” “East of Eden,” and “The Yearling.”

“Morning’s At Seven”

What: Tony award winner for Best Reproduction in 1980; Broadway debut 1939.

When: Now playing through Aug. 27

Where: Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St.

Playwright: Paul Osborn

Director: Michelle Mountain

Cast: Susan Craves, Ruth Crawford, Franette Liebow, Hugh Maguire, Richard McWilliams, Laural Merlington, Rusty Mewha, Rhiannon Ragland, and Tom Whalen

Crew: Design includes set by Sarah Pearline, properties by Katherine Nelson, costumes by Suzanne Young, lighting by Reid G. Johnson, and sound by Brad Phillips. Stage manager – Angie Kane Ferrante with assistance by Thomas Macias; managing director – Katie Doral.

Tickets: Available at www.purplerosetheatre.org or by calling the box office at 433-7673.

About the Purple Rose Theatre Company: Founded in 1991 by actor, playwright, musician and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels, the Purple Rose Theatre Company is a creative home for original American plays. In the 168-seat theatre, patrons experience an intimate encounter with live theatre.

Courtesy photo. Cora Swanson (left) (Ruth Crawford) and Esther Crampton (Susan Craves) share a family joke between sisters.
Courtesy photo. Cora Swanson (left) (Ruth Crawford) and Esther Crampton (Susan Craves) share a family joke between sisters.

 

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