By the time Norman and Ethel Thayer leave their Northern New England lake house at the end of the summer, they’ve discovered they are entering a new season – in life.
The story of their summer is told when Elgin Theatre Company presents the classic drama “On Golden Pond” Feb. 17-26 at Elgin Art Showcase. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Both Sunday shows will be interpreted for the deaf and hearing impaired.
When Norman and Ethel arrive at their lake home – the place where they’ve spent the previous 47 summers – Norman is 79, and Ethel 69. To celebrate his upcoming 80th birthday, their daughter Chelsea visits with her fiancée, Billy Ray, and his son, Billy Ray, Jr.
“The focus really, in my mind, is not only how we deal with family dynamics but it’s a lot about dealing with growing older,” Director Linda Collins said. “You have to enjoy every day of your life.”
The multi-generational tale explores the love story of Norman and Ethel, along with the family dynamic between parent, child and grandparent. While Chelsea and Ethel get along, Norman has a tenuous relationship with their daughter.
“She has a good relationship with Mom, but not so good with Dad,” Collins said.
After Chelsea asks if 13-year-old Billy Ray Jr. can stay with them while she and her fiancée go to Europe, Norman and Ethel find they suddenly have a grandchild for the summer. Even though they are different generations, the teen bonds with his new grandparents as they learn from each other.
“Throughout the show, it’s about memories,” Collins said. “Holding on to good memories, but also realizing you can move on from the bad ones too.”
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Eventually Norman and Chelsea do come together as adult people, she said. Maybe things were tough when she was growing up, but they learn that relationships change between parent and child as the child grows into an adult.
“It’s a study of relationships and how families can move on without breaking apart,” Collins said. “The author of this story shows that no matter what our age, there is the ability within human beings to forgive and forget and move on.”
Along the way, Norman and Ethel realize the relationship they have with each other has changed over the years. They’ve shared a lifetime of love, but now they are getting older and facing their mortality.
“It’s such a beautiful story of this family coming together,” Collins said. “Ethel wants to feel like they’re going to live forever, and Norman, who is 10 years older, is starting to think about his death. But they love each other and have this wonderful life and every year they spend the summer at their lake house on Golden Pond. And it gives them the opportunity to reflect back on their lives.
“The one constant in their lives is the lake house,” she said. “Everything else seems to change.”
Written in 1979 by playwright Ernest Thompson, “On Golden Pond” features a cast of six. Thompson later wrote the screenplay for the 1981 film adaptation, which earned Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn Academy Awards for their portrayals of Norman and Ethel.
“The movie version is quite different. When they made the movie, they added quite a bit to the action that is going on,” Collins said. “But it is the same story. I was watching the movie a couple of day ago, and there are many scenes that are definitely verbatim from the play.”
While Hollywood expanded on the story, the stage version takes place on one set, the lake house. The set Elgin Theatre Company is using is minimal, Collins said, which works well in the company’s new performance space: Elgin Art Showcase.
“It’s a small venue, it’s just going to be representative of the home,” she said. “The emphasis isn’t on the set, it’s on the story.”
For the last eight years, ETC’s productions were held at the Elgin Academy. Collins said the organization is excited to have “On Golden Pond” be the first show in its new home. At full capacity, Elgin Art Showcase seats about 80 people, creating an intimate experience for the audience.
“Especially with this particular show, the intimate nature of the venue is definitely going to enhance the story and (have the audience) be close to and be part of the family,” Collins said. “You’re going to be right in the middle of things and experience what is going on with the family. That’s one of the reasons we chose this particular show. To create that intimacy and closeness so that you can get all the subtlety. It’s a quieter story and something that needs a small venue, in my opinion.”
While “On Golden Pond” is a drama, there is also humor, she said. The play is appropriate for those 13 and older, “just because younger children wouldn’t understand it.”
“Our cast is everything from a 13-year-old young man up to a 79-year-old man, Collins said. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone. It’s just a very relatable story.”
The characters learn that in order to move forward with your life, you have to move on, she said.
“Life never goes the way you plan it. The one constant thing is every summer they go up and spend time together at this lake,” she said. “So it holds all their memories, the whole family.”
Kathy Cichon is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.
‘On Golden Pond’
When: Feb. 17-26
Where: Elgin Art Showcase. 164 Division St., 8th Floor, Elgin
Tickets: $18 Adult; $15 youth/senior
Information: 847-741-0532 or www.elgin-theatre.org