'Over the River' has something for everyone

The summer theater presentation of "Over the River and Through the Woods," which ends Aug. 7 at the John Dowdall Theater, is another four-star presentation by the Port Polson Players. Don't miss it.

It has virtually something for everyone — lots of humor yet a lot of touching moments.

Situations are readily identifiable for anyone who has experienced the happy-sad experience of the empty nest syndrome; who has had to wrestle with agonizing decisions to leave family to advance a career far from their hometown; or relatives who are tempted to hang a guilt trip on a family member who needs to spread his wings and get out on his own, even when facing the inevitable loss of grandparents.

Those are tough issues to deal with and yet the cast members meet the challenges with an appropriate measure of humor and compassion.

A particularly hilarious exchange occurs when the two sets of grandparents and their grandson play a game of Trivial Pursuit. It reminded me of the old radio program from the '40s, "It Pays to Be Ignorant," where the game players would kick around such questions as "Who's buried in Grant's tomb?"

In this case the question was who starred in the movie "High Noon" with Grace Kelly? The answer was on the tips of the grandparents' tongues — if only they could think of it. Answers ranged from "the guy with the big ears" to Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable.

Finally, the answer was read to them — Gary Cooper.

Their reaction: "Nah."

A doff of the fedora goes to cast members Neil and Karen Lewing, Anna Lewing, Don and Elizabeth Torgerson and Mike Lozar for outstanding performances.