BWW Reviews: MOON OVER THE BREWERY Shines on Oyster Mill Playhouse

It's not officially set in Pottsville but it might as well be. Delaware County playwright Bruce Graham, former playwright-in-residence at the Philadelphia Festival Theatre For New Plays, wrote MOON OVER THE BREWERY about an unspecifiEd Pennsylvania coal country town, but the hills, the mills, the very clear descriptions, paint a portrait of Pottsville as clearly as single mother Miriam Waslyk paints moonscapes of her area. It's currently at Oyster Mill Playhouse, directed by Craig Stouffer, and you can almost see the moon shining through the curtains of the Waslyk home as you view it.

MOON OVER THE BREWERY is a tale of conflict between a free-spirit single mother, Miriam Waslyk, and her genius teenage daughter Amanda, over the daughter's disapproval of her mother's male companions. There are two men in the story - Warren Zimmerman, a local postman who's interested in Miriam, and Randolph, Amanda's imaginary friend and partner in crime - most of those crimes centered on getting men out of Miriam's life.

As played by Taylor Guarente, Amanda is a study in young comic evil. Expert in the ways of tormenting adults to cause them to flee, she exploits everything from embarrassment (presenting the watch that her mother's overnight guest accidentally left behind) to the Encyclopedia Game, her ultimate form of destruction, in her efforts to make sure that no man wants to stay. No man, that is, but Randolph, played here by Anthony Geraci. Randolph, Miriam's worst enemy, is invisible to all but Amanda, and she sees him in the form of the lead male in whatever novel she is currently reading. No matter his form, however, his mind is firm - there is no room for men in Miriam's life.

Guarente is a slightly over-pint-sized comic genius with a fierce deadpan - one hopes to see more of her in such roles; she's delightful. Her accomplice, Geraci, as Randolph, appears both in a white-suited Jay Gatsby role and then as John Blackthorne of "Shogun". His comic Blackthorne is extremely funny - his dislike of trying to maneuver in his ship's pilot garb is a joy. The first-act Gatsby, however, while terribly sophisticated (Amanda serves him a soda in, of course, a champagne glass), lacks that flip, insouciant Jazz Age air one associates with Fitzgerald's charming-and-doomed characters that would improve the character slightly at the outset. Randolph is not only present but omnipresent - a matter of great mirth towards the end of the second act. Audiences may find him reminiscent of the legendary Harvey, but Randolph is, engagingly, far more than a pooka.

Miriam, Amanda's mother, is reputed to be an artistic, impractical woman, who can paint brilliantly but not sell a painting for anything approaching its value, and who needs Amanda to balance the checkbook for her. Megan Giles is an appealing, attractive Miriam, but she feels almost too grounded for the ditziness attributed to the character - actually, the script itself falters on Miriam, who may have to wait tables for a living but who seems relatively practical for all the faults attributed to her. Mailman Warren Zimmerman, her potential love interest, might be a decent catch, but will Amanda warm to anyone so ordinary? Warren turns out to be not so ordinary, however - a man full of common sense and keen observation, with an understanding of human nature that may be able to see his way around Amanda. Although JoNathan Morgan is new to the stage, he is the indisputable star of this production, really able to communicate not only with Amanda as Warren, but directly to the audience. It is to be hoped that Morgan decides to remain on stage - he has fine timing and definite presence.

Warren is also Graham's standout character, the one the author really seems to understand. His understanding of gifted children seems a bit lacking - although it's not uncommon for children of single parents to resent their love interests, gifted children often seek adult company for mental stimulation. Amanda's general reading also seems on track - far more advanced than her grade level - which makes her determination to memorize the encyclopedia at her age just a bit peculiar; she should be beyond that. The nature of gifted teens' character and development seems a bit ignored by Graham in order to milk the comedy from teen parenting-of-parents and parental dating disapproval. As previously noted, Graham also seems slightly confused as to his portrayal of Miriam, supposedly unable to balance a checkbook, yet with a college education, not just an art school background, and someone who's become quite astute at judging people's character.

MOON OVER THE BREWERY is gentle, engaging, and, if not particularly deep, it's certainly entertaining. Stouffer's directing is more mature than normally would be expected from a second-time director, though it feels as if he might do more with helping cast explore their characters and their contradictions in the future. But he has a nice sense of pacing that keeps the show on track - and this is a story that could easily lose focus otherwise. If you're in the mood for romantic comedy that doesn't bite, this is your show.

At Oyster Mill Playhouse through the 28^th; call 717-737-6768 or visit oystermill.com for tickets.

Graphic credit: Oyster Mill Playhouse

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