A Guest at Norman's Summer Home

This past Saturday, I was treated to an afternoon at the theater by my sister. She had won tickets to "On Golden Pond" at Barksdale's Hanover Tavern on Facebook. I had been wanting to see this show since its opening, so I was a happy camper, or should I say happy pond tourist? I loved this movie back in 1981, but I had never seen the play. It was delightful, especially watching the back and forth between Ethel, played by Kelly Kennedy and Norman, played by Joe Inscoe, but this play is not about a summer's stay on Golden Pond. It is about Norman Thayer and everyone's relationship with him, his long and loving relationship with his wife, Ethel. His brief, awkward encounter with his soon-to-be son-in-law, Bill Ray (played wonderfully by Andy Boothby), the new bonding relationship he builds with soon-to-be grandson Billy Ray ( a role you could tell Eric Pastore had a wonderful time playing) and his strained relationship with his daughter, Chelsea. Considering the play revolves around Norman, he has to be played by a POWERHOUSE of an actor. Joe Inscoe is that and so much more! I had the honor and privilege of working with Joe this past December in "A Christmas Carol" with Theatre IV. Eventhough he and I have been in Richmond Theatre for a lot of the same years, this was the first opportunity I had gotten to work with him. Joe was our Scrooge, and he was amazing!!!!! I found myself standing in the wings many times just watching him work. Cedric Hardwicke said, “When [actors] are talking, they are servants of the dramatist. It is what they can show the audience when they are not talking that reveals the fine actor.” If there was ever a quote to describe Joe Inscoe as an actor that would be it. When you watch Joe on stage, you never think, "He's acting." He never looks like he's "acting". You feel like your watching this person's life, that you have been invited in to look through that 4th wall to glimpse a piece of the everyday of whichever character he happens to be playing. Last Saturday, I happened to be invited into the world of Norman Thayer, and I found myself wishing I were older so I could trade places with Kelly Kennedy just once to play Ethel. If you can't tell, I'm a big Joe Inscoe fan, and Richmond Theatre is lucky to have him. Henry Fonda won an Oscar for his portrayal of Norman back in 1981. I sure hope we'll be hearing, "And the RTCC award for Best Actor goes to Joe Inscoe." It plays at Hanover Tavern through August 28th. From what I've heard, most performances are sold out, but you owe it to yourself to call just in case a seat has opened up.