King o' the Moon - 2007
King o' the Moon
Opens October 19
Audiences will remember the Pazinski family from four years ago in Over the Tavern, which the RTG presented in 2003. Now the playwright Tom Dudzick has taken the family from the previous play’s setting of 1959 and shows us where they are 10 years later. King O’ the Moon, a funny and compassionate family drama, opens on the RTG stage October 19 and runs four weekends through November 11.
We first met the brash 12-year-old Polish Catholic kid named Rudy Pazinski as he was questioning his religious schooling and imitating Ed Sullivan. Now Rudy is 22 and a seminary student, studying to enter the priesthood. Chet and Ellen were the parents who ran the tavern below their apartment in Buffalo, New York. Chet has died, and the family gathers each year to have a celebratory picnic and tell his spirit how the family is doing.
This year a lot is happening to report to the now-dead father. The Apollo astronauts are circling the moon and will be landing soon. Rudy has offended his seminary teachers by participating in a peace rally against the Vietnam War. Rudy’s widowed mother Ellen has a new suitor in Walter, the guy who helps out in the bar, though no one seems to know it. Eddie, Rudy’s older brother, has enlisted in the Army and will ship out to Vietnam soon. He has married a local girl, Maureen. Rudy’s sister Annie is also married, not very happily. And Rudy’s developmentally disabled brother Georgie is still around eating cereal.
The family conflicts start with discussions about war and peace, life and death, following rules or not. Rudy is still a comedian, quick with the funny quips and still questioning deeper issues.
Rudy and Eddie have a game of one-up-man-ship between them, and the play’s funniest and warmest moments happen between these brothers. Just like they did as kids, they race to see who will be the first to climb up the treehouse and be the King of the Backyard.
King O’ the Moon is set entirely in the backyard behind the tavern and the apartment above it. The area between the house and garage, complete with garbage cans, enfolds the action, conversations, conflicts, and the climactic family picnic.
The play has had successful runs at many regional theatres, generating critical praise for Tom Dudzick, called by some “the Catholic Neil Simon.”
Comments included: “Dudzick has the ability to capture the comic beauty and political unrest of a bygone era.” – Buffalo Beat
“It is a sweet and delightful family comedy with just the right amount of character turmoil to give it a purposeful existence.” – Chicago Business
King O’ the Moon opens Friday, October 19, and runs four weekends through November 11. For information or to reserve tickets, please call the Box Office at 633-4218. You’ll be treated to the crazy antics of the Pazinski family, sure to make you laugh.
From the Managing/Artistic Director - Doug Instenes
You didn’t need to see Over the Tavern to enjoy King O’ the Moon, but it is interesting to see the characters introduced to us in that first play as they have changed 10 years later.
If you remember Rudy from the first play, questioning everything that the nuns taught him in school, it is amazing to see him now studying to be a priest. The kids are now grown up, and concequencely the issues they face are more adult.
Even though the Pazinskis deal with the serious issues that face most families, there is still plenty of humor in this play. Rudy is always the comedian, making wise cracks about everything. And while the family is dealing with the loss of the father, they go on, honoring his memory. Dudzick does a masterful job of taking us on the rollercoast ride of the highs and lows of life.
In our Theatre Guild family, we are also faced with a loss, and we mourn the passing of life member Jim Yorgan. He spent more than 40 years acting and helping on many RTG shows. Anyone who knew Jim could not help but love him. He always had a kind word and a twinkle in his eye. He cared so deeply about his RTG family and touched the lives of so many of us.
Jim will be missed by many, many people. We will remember the wonderful things he did with the RTG in our next issue of The Callboard.
Now, we want you to enjoy King O’ the Moon and laugh along with the warm and hugely funny Pazinski family.
This production deals with some adult issues, and may not be appropriate for younger children.
King o’ the Moon
by Tom Dudzick
CAST
Ellen Pazinski ........... Chris Heilgeist
Rudy ............... Zachary Scot Johnson
Georgie ................... Douggie Kramer
Eddie .............................. Matt Specht
Annie ....................... Denise Denault
Maureen .................... Jamie Johnson
Walter ............................. Joe Mooney
CREW
Director ................... Norman McPhee
Scenic Design ....... Steve Krempasky
Technical Director ............. Kurt Oian
Prod. Stage Mgr. ........... Cindy David
Stage Manager ......... Karen Hamilton
ASM ... Jeff Kauzlarich & John Willett
Lighting Design ............. Brian Schalk
Light Technican .................. Jill Dexter
Sound Design ............... Kevin Hlavka
Sound Tech. .............. Phil Paulsen
Costume Design ......... Sharon Drasen
Wardrobe ................. Fran Maccanelli
Props .. Russ Stetler, Stephen Kalmar II
Makeup ............ Jeanne Christensen