Theater Review: A Love Letter to The Classic Sitcom, With A Very Current Twist

NEW MILFORD — Classic sitcoms such as The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy dealt with bickering spouses, get-rich-quick schemes, and mistaken identity. One thing they did not have to deal with was COVID. Oat Squares, celebrating its world premiere with a production at TheatreWorks New Milford, is a love letter to the classic sitcom with a very current twist.

Written by local playwright George Barnett and directed by Rachel Jones, Oat Squares shines its spotlight on the typical husband and wife, Mary (played by Lori Franzese) and Ralph (Rob Pawlikowski), who are getting older, more set in their ways, and used to their empty nest. When their daughter Ashley (Jennifer Wallace) returns home with her burnt-out rocker boyfriend Justin (Victor Roldan) and asks to move back in just on the precipice of COVID, hilarity ensues.

Barnett’s play is a charming throwback with lots of laughs evoking not only classic sitcoms, but also the much-loved plays of Kaufman & Hart such as The Man Who Came to Dinner. Jones has done a wonderful job guiding this cast and setting the tone. It’s not an easy tone to pull off, so kudos go to her and the whole cast for their hard work.

Leading the cast is Pawlikowski, who perfectly embodies the beleaguered husband role with humor and heart. He gets much-earned laughs from even the lightest facial expression. When the audience realizes something has gone awry, they wait in anticipation for his hilarious reactions.

As the grounded wife Mary, Franzese absolutely nails the Alice Kramden-esque suffering wife, but brings a refreshing grounding reality to not only Mary, but also the play itself. It is fun to watch two local theater veterans such as Pawlikowski and Franzese together on stage battling it out.

As their daughter, Wallace brings balance and harmony to the family. Her calm level-headedness is a nice respite from some of the crazier moments. Her performance is a joy to watch on stage. Her bio lists mostly classical plays such as Shakespeare and Pirates of Penzance, though she seems very much at home in this modern tale.

Roldan brings a hilarious unawareness to the role of the new fiancé, perfectly embodying the burnt-out rocker archetype. Credit must be given to this actor, who took what could be a cartoony stereotype and brought a joyful sense of humanity to the role.

Sue Haneman’s costumes are always spot on, bringing audiences right back to those days when wandering around the house from room to room in morning pajamas and then nighttime pajamas was the new normal. Shagbargh Scenic provided a cozy kitchen/living room combo, which provided a nice amount of space for all of the action. Mark Hankla’s lighting never fails to impress.

A special mention needs to be given to TheatreWorks New Milford and their artistic team. In this post-COVID time of theaters struggling to get by, taking chances on a new work is risky and something that doesn’t happen as often as it should. This company’s nurturing of new plays and playwrights is something other theaters should take note of. Without new plays and playwrights, the future of theater looks bleak. Bravo and thank you, Theatreworks.

Oat Squares continues to June 30. Tickets and other information can be found at theatreworks.us.
Note: While Victor Roldan performed the role of Justin for the opening night performance upon which this review was based, Jim Dietter has now stepped into that role.