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Health & Fitness

'Fifth of July' at Hole in the Wall Theater - My Review

The cast in this play by Lanford Wilson is top notch.

Fifth of July is a play in two acts by Lanford Wilson. The play was first produced at Circle Rep in 1978 with William Hurt and Jeff Daniels in the cast. The author received a Tony Award nomination for the Broadway production in 1980. It is part of the Talley Trilogy of plays.

I had always wanted to see the inside of the Hole in the Wall theater that sits across the street from Trinity on Main Church in downtown New Britain and I jumped at the chance to attend the final dress rehearsal of the play on Thursday. Hole in the Wall (HITW) isn't really a hole in the wall; it actually is a great space and the perfect size for this and probably many other plays. The banked seating makes for excellent viewing from any row.

Kelly DeMauro made his directorial debut at this theater with the play he calls a "wonderful piece of stage literature." It was produced by Dennis Hull and long time member of HITW Warren Dutkiewicz. Mr. Hull played the role of John Landis at the HITW's former space on North Street. Bill Arnold served as technical director. Mr. DiMauro writes that Fifth of July is a "story about friends trying to find their place in 70s mainstream America while dragging the weight of their 60s anti-establishment past behind them." While the Vietnam War that has taken away Kenneth Talley's legs is inherent in the play, the conflict of change and adjustment following the war is the topic of the conversations that make up the action. I had to pay close attention, but I still managed to appreciate the subtle humor.

This ensemble cast was top notch. Tom Pepper was strong in the role of John Landis and Sally Arlette-Garcia was lovely as his wife Gwen, inheritor of a large industrial copper conglomerate who aspires to be a singer. The latter has several credits to her name and has also directed in a small theater in New York. June Talley, Kenneth's sister, single mother and former flower child June, was well-played by Elizabeth Hill Bohmier in her HITW debut. Her daughter was played by middle schooler Tess Pepper, in her first production with the theater, although she has been acting since she was five years old.

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Barbara Gallow played the role of widow Sally Friedman, but was also in the theater's first production of Fifth of July "many moons ago, playing a younger role and using an older script. The young guitar player Wes Hurley was played by Alexander Levine, who brought a good comic timing to his character in his first time on the HITW stage. Jed Jenkins, who is Kenneth's botanist boyfriend, was played well by Sean Sterling-Granado in his HITW debut.

Matthew Skwiot is excellent in the role of Kenneth Talley. A Central Connecticut graduate, this talented actor has many credits to his name. He mastered the physical elements required for the role and did a great job with everything else involved in bringing this important role to life.

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The terrific set is dressed for July 4th on the Talley house sun room for the first act and the titular following day on the front porch of the home on the Talley farm near Lebanon, Missouri. Watching the stage crew transform the stage during intermission from inside to outside was pretty impressive; even the obligatory screen door was moved to the opposite side of the stage. Kudos to Peggy Messerschmidt on a great design that utilizes the entire space of this theater by having the trellis extend to the side of the audience. The great period costumes were provided by Njaye Olds and Ms. Arlette-Garcia probably wore her Gwen outfits the best.

Fifth of July runs at Hole in the Wall Theater  from June 6 through June 28 Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm Sundays June 15th and 22nd at 2:00. Tickets are $20 and $15 for students and senior citizens
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