Best of Friends

One word can make a big difference; anyone researching Grove Players’ final production of the 2017-18 season could pull up the wrong play online by accidentally adding “The” to the title. Luckily for audiences, the Downers Grove based community theater group is not presenting a 1993 play by Hugh Whitemore, set farther back in history, about the correspondence and friendship between notable English citizens George Bernard Shaw, Sydney Cockerell, and Dame Laurentia McLachlan – although these real-life characters were impressive.

Minus “The” as the first word in the title, we have a whole different play, Best of Friends, for the entertainment of Grove Players’ audiences. There is one word in the play itself, however, which turns out to be crucial, if true, and that is “juggler.” Audience members need not strain to catch it; it will be uttered multiple times.

Best of Friends is an American play written in 1970 by James Elward, billed as a “comedy in three acts” – and comedy it is. In some ways reminiscent of a 1940’s production that could have starred Cary Grant as the wandering, famous-author playboy Archer Connaught and the enigmatic Claudette Colbert as his wife, this play abounds with twists and turns, witty dialogue, and multiple subplots.

At its core, though, it examines issues such as loyalty and friendship, forgiveness, coming to terms with reality versus hype, and maturing versus simply aging. All these themes are touched upon with a lot of humor and a great deal of romance, making this play a very enjoyable romp.

The story begins with news of the demise of Archer Connaught, played by Rob Nowak of Lombard, along with his latest young-enough-to-be-his-daughter love interest, Daryl Stoddard, portrayed by Melody Jefferies of Oak Park. When news of Archer’s fate reaches his abandoned wife, Josie, enacted here by Mary Kuhn of Naperville, and their two children, they have varying reactions.

Archer and Josie’s daughter Kate, portrayed by Rima Sabal of Downers Grove, is annoyed and resentful, but her brother Merrill, Brett DiJoseph of Naperville, is devastated, having devoted himself to promoting his father’s greatness. Merrill’s wife Lib is played by Becky Crawford of Bensenville.

Add to this mix a lawyer for MGM, Felix Hackaday, played by Nat Garofalo of Bolingbrook, Archer’s literary agent Hazel Dunn, enacted by Linda Roberts of Burr Ridge, and a character named Bedloe, portrayed by Tom Viskocil of Woodridge, who may or may not have been a juggler at the time of Archer and Josie’s wedding ceremony thirty years before, and the fun begins, eventually winding down to a very satisfactory conclusion, as the characters both learn and remember some important truths about themselves and each other.

This production is directed by Christopher Roe of Geneva. Crew members include Rusty Steiger of Lemont as producer, Rachel Lopez of Bellwood as stage manager, Sally Cassaro of Plainfield for lighting and props, and Marilyn Ludwig and Mary Pavia, both of Downers Grove, as program editor and costumer, respectively.

The show opens Fri., April 27, 2018, for two weekends, through Sun., May 6, at Lincoln Center auditorium, 935 Maple Ave. in Downers Grove. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m., while Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. They may be purchased in person at the theater on performance nights, at Lincoln Center M-F during the day, or at Evelyn Jane Boutique, 1008 Curtiss St. in downtown Downers Grove.

They can also be bought by calling the Grove Players Box Office, 630-415-3682, or online through the Grove Players website, www.groveplayers.org.