 Julie (Alli McCammant), George and Marie’s daughter, tries to think up a quick solution to cover up how drunk her new boyfriend, Douglass (Jeff Britts), is as he prepares to meet George and Marie for the first time in the Brooklyn Community Theater production of "The BIG FIVE-OH," July 26-28. By J.O. Parker Laughter filled the air at the Brooklyn Opera House Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 26-28, as audiences enjoyed the Brooklyn Community Theater production of “The BIG FIVE-OH.” Written and directed by Brian Mitchell, from Grinnell, the production centered around George Thomas (Rob Hanlon), a college psychology professor, who was turning 50 on the weekend. It was a terrible week leading up to George’s birthday. His dog is sick, his son, Eric (Alex Mitchell) is a slacker and his daughter, Julie (Alli McCammant) wants to marry a drunk, vegetarian Republican who is nearly twice her age. With a neurotic wife, Marie (Rachel Lakose), who couldn’t cook, and a widowed neighbor, Kathy Walters (Lucia Dhooge), who might have killed her husband and carries him with her everywhere in an urn, providing more challenges than even George can overcome. And it doesn’t help that the Thomas’ mailbox was filled with letters from the AARP and funeral homes. And then there is Sara Donovan (Abby Smith), one of George’s students in a college sociology course he teaches, who also happens to be stalking him, thrown in the mix. Sara shows up at the Thomas’ home and ends up falling for Eric (Alex Mitchell) in the end. Through the trying days, George discovered the wonders of family, the responsibilities of parenthood and the results of his latest physical, which were confused with the results of tests from the family dog, who later died and was cremated. The production was a hilarious, sometimes touching account of a grown man coming to terms with his age, his relationship with his son, and his future. “I’ve been acting in plays since high school,” said Alli, who played George’s daughter, Julie. “It’s not very hard when you have a cast this great to work with. The theater is wonderful and the director and writer, Brian Mitchell, was great to work with. Theater is my passion. It’s an outlet for me.” “We are part of a group of church people and have known Brian (the writer and director) and his wife, Romana, for years,” said Lynda Risting. “We are here to support them.” “I love the core group of actors and actresses we have here,” said actor Rob Hanlon, who played George. “It’s fun acting with others and seeing them blossom and grow.” “It was hilarious from the start to the finish,” said guest, Paul Nowasell. “It was a tremendous show.” When asked what she thought of the production, Linda Nowasell, wife of Paul, said it was good to get out and laugh. “Alex (George’s son, Eric) is best friends with our youngest son,” she said. “With everything going on in the world, it is good to get out and laugh.” Cast: Rachel Lakose as Marie Thomas Rob Hanlon as George Thomas Alex Mitchell as Eric Thomas Alli McCammant as Julie Thomas Lucia Dhooge as Kathy Walters Jeff Britts as Douglas Abby Smith as Sara Donavan Crew: Brian Mitchell, writer and director Cathy Sonnichsen, co-director Beth Mitchell, production assistant Lorelai Gerard, lights and sound Kim Hawkins, stage manager and props master
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