Remember “Friends,” the popular ‘90’s sitcom? Picture the cast of characters in a stage play, and you have a strong impression of Craig Pospisil’s Months on End, the latest production of The Genesius Guild of First United Methodist Hammond. The play is set to grace the limelights weekends April 10-19.
In a series of comic vignettes—one for each month of the year—the play follows the intertwined worlds of a circle of friends and family whose lives are poised between happiness and heartbreak. The circle centers around Phoebe (Kristin Gorski) and Ben (Adam Pindrock), who are engaged to be married. But Phoebe worries her Beatles-obsessed fiancé may not be the right man for her, and Ben's no help planning the wedding because he's distracted by a friend's illness. Even so, Elaine (Joycie Brantley) is jealous of her friends' relationship, especially since none of hers last more than five dates.
She's ready to give up on love until she meets the eternally optimistic Walter (Jaime Garcia), whose only flaw may be that he's married. Walter's gruff brother, Nick (Paul Davis), is single, but when he proposes to Paige (Hermine M. Robinson), things do not quite go as planned. Heidi (Mary Pasyk), Phoebe's post-feminist sister, delivers a comic gem of a commencement address in May, and come June, Phoebe's wedding day is complicated by her parents (Jerry Golvidis and Elizabeth Roman) and their running commentary. The months march on, and the interactions between the characters continue.
“The unique thing of this show is that it deals with the things everyone goes through in life and things that people actually feel. And that's really cool to me,” says cast member Adam Pindrock. “I love the way the show is written. [This show] has forced me to act in a way that I never have before.” Director Ed Griffith believes that the play is a touching commentary on the modern human condition.
“It really is a strong script,” says Griffith. “In fact, it could be broken down into twelve one-acts, all of which could stand on their own. By putting them together, we’re seeing pieces of a puzzle, and figuring things out along with the characters living their lives out on stage.”
“The characters are easily likeable and their stories are quite humorous most of the time,” says cast member Mary Pasyk. “I am really enjoying myself with this show. The cast is great and the script is one that anybody can relate to because it explores a large range of human emotions - from excitement to sadness and everything in between. I think it's a great show to come see to take audiences into another world for a couple hours of quality live entertainment.”
“It's a collage of life, triumph and tragedy that will send you on an emotional rollercoaster,” says cast member Elizabeth Roman. “You’re guaranteed to relate to at least one or more of these stories, as they tell a lot about personalities and situations we deal with on a daily basis.”
Months on End will be performed in the Fellowship Hall at the First United Methodist Church of Hammond, 6635 Hohman Ave. in Hammond, Indiana, at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. A 3 p.m. matinee will be performed Sunday afternoons. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and students high school age or younger. Tickets are available at the door or by calling toll-free 877-724-7715. A group discount is available for groups of 15 or more; contact the box office for details and reservations.
The play is produced through arrangements with the Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
