Comedy challenges expectations of traditional wedding ceremony; play on stage at MRHS Nov. 14-16
LINWOOD — The Mainland Regional High School Drama Club will present the comedy “Father of the Bride” on stage Nov. 14-16.
Phil Pallitto noted in his director’s notes that the play was adapted from Edward Streeter’s 1949 novel and immortalized by three subsequent films of the same name, the most famous of which starred Steve Martin and Martin Short.
“While on the surface ‘Father of the Bride’ appears to align with the values of its time, beneath the comedy and family drama lies a subtle, progressive commentary that challenges the traditional expectations of the 1950s era and exposes the underlying chaos of family life and the messiness of love, acceptance and change,” Pallitto wrote. “The play gently pokes fun at the rigidity of 1950s social norms.”
It features the Banks family — father, mother and three children — that does not conform to the 1950s ideal of a perfectly harmonious, obedient unit.
“Instead, each member of the family is filled with quirks, conflicts and contradictions,” Pallitto wrote. “The parents bicker, siblings tease each other and the family isn’t afraid to voice their doubts or concerns.”
The portrayal of family life is far from the polished images that were popular in the media of the time, offering instead a refreshingly honest look at family dynamics.
“The Banks family, in its own small way, defies the 1950s cultural push toward perfectionism, embracing each member’s authentic, imperfect self,” Pallitto wrote. “Today, as we reflect on evolving gender roles, family structures and individual independence, ‘Father of the Bride’ remains highly relevant.
The play’s themes challenge viewers to consider how far society has come in terms of family dynamics and gender expectations and, in some ways, how similar conflicts are still being navigated.
“Whether it’s the complexities of familial love or the balance between tradition and progress, this story speaks to anyone who’s ever tried to make sense of societal expectations while staying true to who they are,” Pallitto wrote.
The double-cast play features Gavin Batohie and Mason Naman as Mr. Stanley Banks, Isa Perez and Kira Finnegan as Mrs. Ellie Banks, Mia Patermo and Madison McKnight as Kay Banks, Skylar Laubach and Yulian Pereira as Massoula, Corbin Garwood and Alex Piergiovanni as groom-to-be Buckley Dunstan, Cylas Finx and Jack Traa as Ben Banks, John Plamantouras and Alyssa Nannola as Tommy Banks, Piergiovanni and Garwood as Mr. Dunstan, McKnight and Perez as Mrs. Dunstan, Audrey Hope Gill and Julia Plamantouras as Delilah, Mya Mazurek and Olivia Crede as secretary Mrs. Bellamy, Traa and Finx as Buzz Taylor, Olivia Wrigley and Ava DiPasquale as Peggy, Anna Sturgis and Asha Patel as Jo, Charlotte Gerber and Sadie Gorbig as Mrs. Pulitzki.
Pallitto said the fall play generally draws only about half as many student performers as the spring musical, noting “Father of the Bride” has a cast of 24 in 14 to 15 roles.
“Because it’s not a musical, it takes a more serious actor to really do a two-and-a-half-hour, three-act straight comedy,” he said. “It takes a different student who really has a love of their art to perform in the play.”
Mia Patermo, a junior from Northfield performing in her first play, portrays bride Kay Banks.
“It’s really fun to try something new and I love it,” Patermo said. “As a singer first, it is very different because I just love to sing all the time, so it’s definitely a drastic change from not being able to break out in song all the time. This demands more focus,” Patermo said.
Mason Naman, a senior from Northfield who plays Stanley Banks, said being a father and mentor is a new role for him, following his casting as Danny Zuko in last spring’s production of “Grease.”
“It’s fun because me being an upperclassman and the girl playing my daughter being an underclassman, as somebody who has had a lot of leadership opportunities within the drama club over my time here at Mainland, it has been an interesting relationship I have built with Maddie,” he said, noting there is a “level of maturity difference that is able to shine through on the stage.”
He said the chemistry is much different than when he was acting opposite of Sandy in the spring musical. But as with “Grease,” he feels the play is still relevant in today’s society.
“There are a lot of themes about women’s independence and how it’s important for not everything needing to be revolved simply around one figure of a man who is running the whole shebang single-handed,” Naman said.
Noting the contribution of costume designer Julie Jackson, he said the clothing and single set design play as much of a role as the actors.
“In this show, each individual costume piece has a meaning behind it,” he said. “There are lots of opportunities for anything that you are looking at to also tell the story.”
Isa Perez, a senior from Northfield who plays Mrs. Ellie Banks, said her favorite part of the years of participating in theater is working with the adults.
“Our directors are some of my favorite people on the planet,” she said, noting they have created a “safe space.”
Skylar Laubach and Yulian Pereira, a senior from Somers Point, take turns as Massoula, the wedding planner and comedy relief.
“I love Massoula. It’s such a different character from others that I have played; a character you can do so much with, you can build,” Pereira said. “Massoula is a learning experience for improvisation and just finding yourself as an actor, because there are so many choices with mannerisms and accents and impressions. Massoula brings a whole different aspect of comedy to the entire production.”
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
