Trying to describe a play such as "On Golden Pond," the story of friction and love in a multigenerational family, could be sort of a "tastes great, less filling" proposition.
When a story can make you laugh AND cry, is it a comedy? Or is it a drama?
"Most critics have classified it as a drama, but I feel it is much more than that," director Lee Barnum wrote in her notes about the production that will open Thursday in the Empire Arts Center.
'Drama/comedy'
"It is a 'drama/comedy' plus a slice of reality. This is a play about real people in real situations," Barnum said. "I'm sure members of the audience will identify with these characters. I know I have."
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Thanks to the 1981 film starring Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn and Jane Fonda, it's a story that's familiar to a wide audience.
About the playIn this version, presented by Fire Hall Theatre, the cranky and controlling Norman and his wife, Ethel are played by Steve Kraft and Trish McGuire, both of Grand Forks.
Mare (pronounced Mary) Thompson of Grand Forks is their daughter, Chelsea, and Jeff Holt, Grand Forks, is her Fiance, Bill.
In the movie, Bill had a teenage son, but in this play, he has a daughter, played by Jacy Thibert of Manvel, N.D.
Ralph Swendseid of Thief River Falls plays Charlie the mailman.
Movie in 1981"On Golden Pond" opened off Broadway in 1979, Barnum said, and the 1981 movie gave the play a jump-start.
"It's been on a roll ever since," she said. "I myself have directed it three times."
The film won a Best Actor Academy Award for Fonda, a Best Actress award for Hepburn and an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material for Another Medium.
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It was a record-setting fourth win for Hepburn, and the first for Fonda, who received an Honorary Oscar the year before.
Daughter Jane accepted the Best Actor award for his "Pond" role on her father's behalf; he was too ill to attend. Henry Fonda died just five months later. Hepburn died in 2003.
For more about the play that will run Thursday through Nov. 12 and also Nov. 16-18 in Empire Arts Center, read Barnum's director's notes on this page.
Tobin reports on arts and entertainment and coordinates the Teen Page. Reach her at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or ptobin@gfherald.com .
