By Linda Mrnak

Over the River and Through the Woods will have you both laughing out loud and dampening a Kleenex or coat sleeve. Nick, a 29-year-old marketing manager, has been offered an attractive promotion in Seattle, far from his four doting Italian grandparents.

After he announces his plans, his grandparents play the guilt card, appeal to his sympathies and invite a lovely single nurse to a weekly Sunday dinner, hoping to spark a binding flame—all in the hopes of changing his mind from leaving New Jersey as his parents and sister did. “Tengo famiglia” , meaning “keep the family” is the mantra by which they have lived, raised their children and which they repeat as a reminder to Nick. Each character expresses their feelings of this possible separation in monologues and in interactions with the other family members, often with humorous or disastrous results.

Nick, played by Gabriel Frey, narrates his memories looking back at those days, and enters scenes of flashbacks. Gabriel develops an intimacy with the audience and leads us through feeling sympathy and anger with, and then admiration for Nick.

Joe Lewis, as Frank, renders the defensive arguments to keep driving after some accidents, the youthful vigor of memories, and a deeply emotional tale of his boyhood departure from Italy with equal skill.

Debbie Baumann as his wife, Aida, is young for the scripted aged character. She is nonetheless convincing as the seemingly oblivious Italian-mama feeding machine, with, we find out later, an undertow of depth and understanding.

Nunzio, played by Don Laughridge, is a blustery character, who we find out is hiding a secret suffering. His memory chain in the Trivial Pursuit game helps make this a hilarious, not to be missed scene.

The other half of this “loudest grandparents” couple is Emma, portrayed by Rose Marie Sweeney, a veteran of a gazillion plays, according to director Reif. Emma’s colorful costumes elicited pleasurable comments from audience members.

The lovely, single nurse, Caitlin, was played by Siobhan O’Brien, who returned to Dreamweavers, after five years, for this role. Her coquettishness charmed both Nick and the audience.

The play is directed by June Alane Reif who had to weave rehearsals around her performance schedules, as she acted in the previous plays. This is the sixth play she has directed and the sixth she has been part of this year! In addition, June is president of the Dreamweavers Board of Directors and the company’s web mistress.

Reif says the play is about memories. In order to achieve a desired dreamlike quality, she, in consultation with Victor Davis, designed a minimalist set, with just enough detail in the props to capture the essence of “Grandma’s house” and the important 3 F’s: family, faith, and food.

Light designer, Dal Burns, had the challenge of quick changes from individually spotted monologues to full stage action. Carmen Slack, as Stage Manager, organized the food and other props, as well being stage hand between scenes. These two were assisted by two energetic and able New Tech High student interns Gigi Modesto and Jade Castro.

Dreamweavers has been entertaining Napa for over 20 years. While other companies, large and small around the Bay and country, are falling by the wayside, They are going strong.

Over the River and Through the Woods will play for two more weekends, Nov. 13-15, and 20-22. Friday shows are at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday matinee is at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $20 general admission and $18 for students, seniors, and military. Tickets can be ordered online at www.DreamweaversTheatre.org, or purchased at the door. Be forewarned, the house often sells out, come early.