Newcomers add depth to shows

By Dave Cotton: Our 27th season, 1974-1975, contained the American Classic "Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams framed by two contemporary comedies: "One Up, One Down, One Pending" by Marc Camoletti in the fall and Arthur Laurents's "Invitation to a March," in the spring. During this season we gained about a dozen new Workshoppers, both on stage and back stage.

Over the summer of 1974 last season's legendary production of "Fiddler on the Roof" was invited to perform at a special arts fair at Lorain County Community College.

Director Valerie Gerstenberger needed help with the lighting and drafted Peter Hawkins, a professor at Oberlin College. That fall Peter began his long association with Workshop as he grew to become our preeminent lighting designer working on 31 shows over the next decade.

"Glass Menagerie" turned out to be particularly auspicious for Peter as he met his future wife during that show. Hawkins said, "It is hard to remember how I learned about Workshop Players and how I got involved. What I do remember is the quality work they did. I was very impressed and glad to be a part of it. My favorite memory is 'Glass Menagerie.' It is a grand show. And, of course, that's where I met Marilyn."

In the fall, Valerie Jenkins Gerstenberger directed "One Up, One Down, One Pending," which enjoyed a revival on Broadway last season under the title of "Boeing-Boeing." This show is about an American playboy who is simultaneously engaged to three different airline stewardesses. He manages, with the help of his housekeeper, to keep their schedules separate and spend parts of each week with each of the ladies. Of course this scheme was bound to collapse at some point and that was the source of much laughter for our audiences. The critics pointed out that "playboy," Ernie Goodsite, and Sally Huge, his housekeeper, had the "plum" roles. Making their Workshop debut in this show were Pam Metzger and Marc Streem.

The poetically beautiful "Glass Menagerie" was directed by Fritz McDonough in the winter of 1974-75. Newcomers Marilyn Litterer and Michael Ott portrayed Amanda Wingfield and her son Tom. As mentioned earlier Marilyn and Peter Hawkins met during this show.

Marilyn said, "I got involved with Workshop Players because I went to see 'One Up, One Down, One Pending,' and read that there would be an audition for 'Glass Menagerie' the following Sunday afternoon. I drove over alone, got lost, and was very late. Fritz McDonough had about finished hearing everyone. But he graciously let me read. And the rest is history."

Two relative newcomers, who made their debuts in "Fiddler" the previous season, rounded out the cast of "Glass Menagerie." Joyce Campana, in her first non-singing role, played Laura, and Ron Miller played the "gentleman caller." Both Joyce and Ron went on to professional careers in theater.

Evelyn Witham directed the spring show. The story centered on a young woman who had to choose between a calculated "proper" marriage to her society beau or the more carefree "invitation to march to a different drummer" from a free-spirited, non-conforming beach bum. When I scan that cast list, I see that four Workshop veterans -- Adele Filbert, Yvonne Alford, Jane Ryan and Fritz McDonough -- solidly anchored a cast that featured four new young actors: Karen Smith, Don Omler, Mark Filbert and Chip Karpus.

It is interesting to note that John Handyside who now manages the Lorain Palace Theater made both his tech and acting debuts at Workshop during this season. He worked on every show and played a part in one of the spring one-acts.

In mid-May three Workshop members who wanted to try directing were given the opportunity to direct one-act plays which were offered for one weekend of performances. Dick Beal directed David Crowder's "A Friendly Loan," and Dave Metzger directed Susan Glaspell's "Suppressed Desires." Both Dick and Dave went on to direct full length shows for us.

Dorothy Howe Shobe directed the third show, "Heat Lightning," by Robert Carroll. This show introduced the acting talents of Handyside and Dorothy Greenholtz. Greenholtz is one of our current Workshop powerhouse actors who has worked on 24 shows including our last show, "And Then There Were None."

In short, the 1974-75 season was a good one that brought some significant newcomers to us and carried on our tradition of quality shows.