Kelsey Theater kicks off the new year with a serious family drama that finds humor in even the most fraught moments. PinnWorth Productions presents Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play “August: Osage County” on weekends from Friday, January 8, to Sunday, January 17. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on January 8.
The Westons are a dysfunctional family with parents who have given up on each other, siblings with long simmering resentments, and a whole range of communication problems with just about anyone related to their clan. It would be wise to leave the kids at home.
“It’s one part ‘All in the Family’ and one part `Medea’ [the ancient Greek tragedy],” says Lou Stalsworth, the show’s producer and director. “I’ve been fortunate to cast some of Central Jersey’s best talent as the Weston family — a group of women who put the fun into dysfunctional.”
The cast stars Sari Ruskin of Princeton as Violet, the acid-tongued, pill-popping mother to sisters Barbara, Ivy, and Karen, played by Laurie Hardy of Hamilton, Sally Page of Princeton, and Kyla Marie Mostello Donnelly, a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School.
“It has the best dialogue since ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf.’ With equal parts deep anger and shocking bluntness, it’s laughable dark humor. And while it translated wonderfully to the big screen with a cast that included Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, I think the stage version is even better,” Stalsworth said.
The cast also features Joe Comengo of Moorestown as Bill Fordham, Jaci D’Ulisse of Trenton as Johnna Monevata, Rachel Lemos of Lawrenceville as Jean Fordham, Jon Heron of Monroe as Charles Aiken, Roman Sohor of Manalapan as Little Charles Aiken, Zach Abraham of Highland Park as Sheriff Deon Gilbeau, and Sean McGrath of Churchville, Pennsylvania, as Bev Weston.
In addition to Stalsworth, the production team includes set and costume designer Kate Pinner and sound and lighting designer Robert Terrano. Nicole Schulnick is stage manager.
August: Osage County, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $18. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
