I’ll admit up front, I’ve never seen the movie “On Golden Pond,” made famous by the pairing of legitimate Hollywood legends Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda in his final role before dying only eight months after the film’s December 1981 release – perhaps prophetic given his OGP character’s propensity for predicting his own imminent demise.
So, when I entered The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton this past Friday night to watch the Plaza Alliance for the Performing Arts (PAPA) production of “On Golden Pond,” I arrived with few preconceived notions, cautions, or expectations. I just knew it had to be a quality story based on the 1982 Best Actress/Actor Academy Awards for Hepburn and Fonda, as well as a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Fonda’s daughter Jane (the driving force behind the movie being made), plus the Oscar for Best Writing and six other nominations, including Best Picture.
I also knew of PAPA’s long history and reputation for delivering satisfaction to its audiences over a number of decades. I’d even personally experienced its actors, sets, and production values several times before and can confidently say “On Golden Pond” has taken a rightful place among PAPA’s successful, satisfying offerings on The Plaza stage.
Completely played on a single set representing a 1970s summer retreat in Maine, veteran local actor Bill Dudley owned Fonda’s role as Norman Thayer, an older man convinced this would probably be his last visit after making 48 summertime retreats to Golden Pond. He’s there with his wife Ethel, played equally convincingly by Sarah Daly Weir, another familiar figure to Lake Country theater goers after acting in 28 PAPA productions.
In the play, they await the arrival of their daughter Chelsea, played by veteran actress Jackie Hill in her PAPA debut, with her new beau Bill, played by Andrew Tam, also in a first role with PAPA, as is Luis Quinones, a 13-year-old 7th grader at Athens Academy, ably playing Billy Jr.
The final piece of the tiny “On Golden Pond” cast is Brent Mero, making his second PAPA appearance as Charlie the lovestruck mailman, who still harbors feelings left over from a long-ago dalliance with Chelsea.
That’s it. Under the direction of PAPA veterans — both on and off stage — Lou Benjamin and Dennis McClain, these five actors take the audience on an insightful, often poignant exploration of advancing age, uncertain love, youthful apathy, exploration, disappointment, and renewed enthusiasm in various degrees.
“On Golden Pond” represents PAPA’s 79th production since its 1978 founding in Eatonton. The play resumes this weekend with its final three shows at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, followed by a 3 p.m. start on Sunday.
All tickets at The Plaza (305 N. Madison Ave., Eatonton) are $25 each. Good seats remain for all three shows, though Sunday’s matinee is filling up quickly.
Visit plazacenter.org or call 706-923-1655 to order tickets.