"On Golden Pond" presented by the Granbury Theatre Company

ON GOLDEN POND
play program





Granbury Theatre Company

The Travelling Toe and 3 other friends attended  the Sunday matinee performance of "On Gold Pond" presented by the Granbury Theatre Company.  The play was performed in the historic Granbury Opera House which has recently undergone a wonderful restoration.  It is a lovely venue to enjoy a live performance.

GRANBURY OPERA HOUSE
COURTHOUSE SQUARE
GRANBURY TX

The play is told in 2 acts with 3 scenes in the first act and 2 scenes in the second act.  The story takes place at Norman and Ethel's summer house situated on Golden Pond.  Norman is rather a curmudgeon but Ethel takes it in her stride.  Their daughter Chelsea with her fiancee, Billy,  and soon to be step-son, Billy Jr., come for a short visit before embarking on a trip to Europe. During the play, unresolved issues between father and daugher pop up.  Plus  we begin to see Norman suffering decline in his health and memory.

Since Chelsea and Billy are headed for an extended trip to Europe, it is decided that Billy Jr will spent the summer with Norman and Ethel.  Along the way Norman and Billy Jr become good friends.  Norman introduces young Billy to classic literature such as "Robinson Crusoe" and "The Count of Monte Christo". And they spend many hours out on the lake fishing.  At the end of summer, Chelsea arrives to pick up Billy to take him home to California.  She then tells her parents that she and Billy Senior were married while in Europe.  
Chelsea and her father have a discussion about old hurts and come to a tentative reconciliation.  Norman and Ethel agree to visit the new family in California.

The Travelling Toe must admit she was a little hesitant to see this play due to a dislike of the movie, but this production was way better than the movie.  All the actors were very good in their parts.  But, Duncan Alexander who played Norman and Tonya Laree, Ethel,, were spot on for their characters.  After the performance both actors come to the lobby and greeted audience members as we exited the theater.  It was a nice treat to be able to tell the actors how much you enjoyed their performance.

What an delightful  afternoon's entertainment of live theater shared with good friends.

Ernest Thompson
playwright

Side Note:  The play was written by Ernest Thompson in 1979.  It was then adapted for the movie and which was released in 1981.

See the play not the movie!

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