Dorothy Lyman’s well-crafted, funny ‘Upstate’ premieres in New Milford
By Nancy Sasso Janis
5/21/25
TheatreWorks New Milford has produced the world premiere of a new play written and directed by two-time Emmy Award winner Dorothy Lyman. “Upstate” continues at TheatreWorks through Saturday.
The TheatreWorks website describes Lyman’s work: “Three generations of women meet upstate over President’s Day weekend to decide the fate of their family farm and its matriarch.” Everyone at TheatreWorks feels “extremely privileged that Dorothy has selected our theater to debut her latest work.”
The play is set during the holiday weekend in 2018 at Gladstone Hollow Farm in Delaware County in upstate New York. It is important to keep the year in mind, as it figures into the political discussion early in the play. The script covers the plight of farmers, the terror of school shootings, the work of environmental scientists and the secrets to getting the best eggs while raising chickens.
TheatreWorks President Gale Alexander notes the audience gets “a look into the challenges of one family, and to accompany them on their journey to resolution and reconciliation.” Lyman guides the journey of the six well-drawn characters with a deft hand and reminds us that no matter what, family is family.
Not only did Lyman direct the funny and poignant production, she plays an important role onstage. What a treat to see the veteran actor/director live onstage as matriarch of the Gladstone family, Elizabeth. We quickly realize why her career in television (Opal Gardner on “All My Children,” Naomi on “Mama’s Family”) and film has spanned five decades.
Lyman believes she must be the “oldest ‘emerging’ playwright in America,” and is thrilled to discover at age 78 that she has a chance to share her thoughts and tell her stories. She has made it her personal mandate to create great roles for older women, “an invisible and therefore underrepresented segment of our society.”
“Old Women’s Lives Matter Too!” she writes in “A Note from the Grateful Playwright” in the printed program.
“Upstate” is a well-crafted tale with plenty of comedy, especially from the lips of Lyman’s character. Patrons will be able to relate to the characters who represent their personal generation, whether just out of college, in the “sandwich generation” or those in their golden years.
Jamie Spannhake is an attorney who returned to the stage in 2016 when she was invited by Lyman to appear in a staged reading that she was directing. Here she plays Elizabeth’s “annoyed daughter” Betsy. She also had the opportunity to play Lyman’s daughter in other plays. The chemistry between the two, whether strained or loving, is apparent in their performances.
Kevin Sosbe of New Milford brings his wonderfully deep speaking voice to the role of Betsy’s somewhat brash husband, Tom. Sosbe sagely writes that “this timely and relevant piece … strikes not only a personal chord, but touches upon universal truths regarding family, life, work and legacy.”
Kay Mickelson returns to the stage to take on the role of the public school teacher Liz, who represents the youngest generation in the farmhouse. Her character fiercely loves her aging grandmother but is working to overcome the trauma of a shooting at her school. Thomas Ovitt plays her boyfriend, Jason, with the perfect amount of restraint.
Patti Reese, newly married to Foster Evans Reese, makes her TheatreWorks debut as Christie, a neighbor who has worked for Elizabeth for many years.
Patricia Vastone worked with Lyman as assistant director and Keli Solomon as the show’s producer. Mark Hankla designed the lighting and James Higgins composed the original music that accompanies the transitions between scenes. This production marks Higgins’ sixth show with Lyman. The set constructed by Shagbargh Scenic and others is a detailed kitchen of a farmhouse that is very well done.
Lyman’s fourth play, “We Have to Hurry,” was produced last month in New York at Hudson Guild Theatre. She reminds us of what Oscar Wilde said: “We don’t stop playing when we get old, we get old when we stop playing.” Play on, Ms. Lyman.
Remaining performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Get tickets at theatreworks.us.
“Upstate” is presented with no intermission and runs about 90 minutes. There is some foul language in the script, a gunshot sound effect and a nonfiring replica of a gun used as a prop.
Nancy Sasso Janis has been reviewing all levels of theatrical productions since 2012. Follow her on Facebook at Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer.
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