WHOSE STORY IS THIS ANYWAY?
The first half of the 1970s were a tumultuous time as the Vietnam War raged on, Watergate shocked Americans into the realization that our trusted government might not always be on the up-and-up, and despite all the love-ins of the 1960s, even the Beatles weren’t finding that “All You Need Is Love”. TV began to reflect reality instead of idealism with shows like Father Knows Best and Leave it to Beaver giving way to grittier entertainment like All in the Family and M*A*S*H.
It was a troublesome time for the American mind, which makes it a great backdrop for North Coast Rep’s next offering, Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, opening Oct. 23 and running through Nov. 17, 2024. We’re taken back to a time without internet, without social media, without even email, so your world was much more confined to the people around you. And their judgments.
Katie Forgette’s storyline takes place on just one day in 1973 in the life of Linda O’Shea (Samantha Gorjanc), our 19-year-old narrator, the product of a money-strapped, Irish-Catholic family. While narration characters undermine some plays, what makes it unique in this case is that her family keeps interrupting to tell their side of the story. In particular, the local priest, Father Lovett (Tom Dugan), is determined to keep Linda’s storytelling more to his liking than hers.
The script is wonderfully female-centric as we watch the journeys of Terri (Shana Wride) and Jo (Erin Noel Grennan) coming to terms with a world that wasn’t designed for women but is now opening doors for them. While it’s not necessary to have grown up Irish Catholic (or even to remember the 1970s), there’s always that extra lift to the humor if you can relate to their upbringing and environment. However, we can all relate to Linda being forced to tell her 13-year-old sister Becky (Abbi Hoffpauir) about the Birds and the Bees
When I asked direction Jenny Sullivan why she chose this play, she countered, “Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help actually chose me! As soon as I read the first monologue, I knew I had to direct it. It’s a memory play that dives with great humor and passion into the world of 1973 (also a pivotal year in my life). I have loved the challenge of revisiting that analog time thru the adventures of the O’Shea family. One of my favorite elements of storytelling is how our writer Katie Forgette employs many classic movie titles to help guide the youngest daughter and therefore the audience through the journey.”
The Design Team includes Marty Burnett (Scenic Designer), Matthew Novotny (Lighting Designer), Elisa Benzoni (Costume Designer), Evan Eason (Sound Designer) and Peter Herman (Hair & Wigs). Christopher M. Williams is the Stage Manager and Props Designer. Tyler Dean is the Production Assistant.
photos by Aaron Rumley
Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
North Coast Repertory Theatre
987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach
Wed and Thurs at 7; Fri at 8; Sat at 2 & 8; Sun at 2 & 7 (check for variances)
runs Oct. 23-Nov. 17, 2024
for tickets, call 858.481-1055 or visit North Coast Rep