Love, Laughter and Lucci

Love, Laughter and Lucci, an original play by Cricket Daniel

In Act I, Scene I, the lights come up and we are transported into the modest home of the Santoro family. A typical Italian family in West Haven, Connecticut. Gloria is cooking eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast and being busy in the kitchen. A few moments later we meet Gloria’s father Sal, who is working his way slowly down the staircase. There on the stairway wall are three pictures. The first is a picture of his wife which he stops and kisses. The next is a picture of Jesus, where he stops to bless himself with the sign of the cross and the third is a picture of Susan Lucci. Sal stops, looks at the picture of Susan Lucci and does some sort of dance ritual. This is obviously a comedy.

Love Laughter and Lucci was written by local playwright, Cricket Daniel. This is Cricket’s second play and this one was inspired by reflecting back to her youth when her dream was to move to New York City to be an actor on television. The time is during the peak of soap operas when All My Children and Susan Lucci ruled the daytime television screen.

Cricket’s dad was the inspiration for the character Sal, the feisty Grandfather, played by Liam O’ Sruitheain. Gloria, the single Mom who is doing her best to raise her daughter is played by Rachel Deegan. Maria, Gloria’s daughter is played by Ali Kinkade and according to Cricket this is what she envisioned herself to be growing up. T.K., Maria’s best friend is played by Anne Givens. Both Ali and Anne are students at Summit High School in Bend.

The rule is that casting is the key to any successful play and in this case the cast could not have been better. Liam O' Sruitheain plays a convincing Sal Santoro who is reliant on medications, his walker and his daughter. He’s feisty yet a big softy for his daughter Gloria and his granddaughter Maria. Rachel Deegan has the comedic timing of a stand-up comic and the acting skills to match. As Gloria, she presents a complex, tender and hilarious character who really lights up the stage. The two youngsters, Ali KinKade and Anne Givens, Maria and T.K. respectively, bring that youthful exuberance and innocence in perfect contrast to Gloria’s obligations as a single Mom and Sal who helps Maria with her dream of becoming a television actor on All My Children.

Cricket took a chance on first time director Vanessa Farnsworth, who has been in many plays herself at 2nd Street Theatre as an actor, singer and dancer. Well, now she can add Director to her resume.

This is a hilarious, warm and sometimes emotional story with an excellent cast that brings all the characters to life in a way that is totally believable. Act I started off fairly fast paced but there were times where it dragged along and I began to anticipate the intermission. In Act II, the pace improved and the story came together with a renewed energy and commitment from the actors.

The set design and construction is well thought out. The set was designed and built by Todd Hansen and Assistant Director Lyryn Cate. The simple yet detailed set made us beleive we were in the kitchen, in the living room and at the dining table right along with the Santoro family. The set made perfect use of the stage area and allowed the actors to move from one place to another comfortably with quick scene changes.

This play is a must see for many reasons. You will laugh, maybe cry but for sure you’ll be entertained and amazed at what this local playwright and this cast delivers. A big thumbs up from this Performing Arts Examiner.