Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Majestic Theater in West Springfield, Mass.
Written by Katie Forgette, directed by Rand Foerster
“A 40 year relationship with my calendar.”
In this genteel family sitcom, a “memory play,” we are told far too often by the narrator, Linda O’Shea (played by Jenna Burns), that the laughs are genuine and the situation, though ordinary, is of interest to an audience that remembers the 1970s. For those who don’t remember that era, the narration is extensive and clues younger audience members into the facts of the times. It is also that lengthy narration that bogs down the play. Unlike other memory plays, such as “The Glass Menagerie,” in which three lines complete the setup, this play dwells on the concept for nearly 15 minutes, which is far too long… and is brought up far to often. We get it!

Jenna Burns handles all this repetitive narration as well as anyone possibly could, and she also handles the drama in the comedy with appropriate angst and amazing grace. This Irish-Catholic family faces the traumas in their lives as well as any family could, with the possible exception of Dad (Mike), played to perfection by John Baker. Linda has told us that her father was able to imitate lots of other folks well, and so Baker’s Mike assumes two other roles: the parish priest and the parish gossip. In a cast of five, he is the performance star, but, regrettably, no photos of him have been supplied.
Mom (Jo) is nicely played by Sandra Blaney with all the aplomb of a woman who filters life to the point where there is no bad news, even with mother-in-law-in-a-bedroom-upstairs trauma. Her own physical welfare makes the show’s finale as much fun as anything else in the play, and Blaney plays this scene to an ideal level.
Burns plays Linda as well as anyone could, her twin roles of modern narrator and ’70s teenager similar enough to recognize and yet as different as time might allow. Burns is easy to listen to in both roles, and she manages to keep up our interest as Linda and doesn’t fail to engage as the narrator. Unfortunately the perspective sense of looking back 40 years doesn’t play as well as it should. The nearly 60-year-old Linda is still the girl she was at 19.
Her six-years-younger sister Becky, played by Maggie Hamel, emerges as a true 13-year-old, vaguely aware of the facts of life and oddly not eager to know too much. There is truth in this dichotomy, and Hamel plays the difficulties as well as the revelations extremely well. There is true comedy in her playing of this role.
Cate Damon’s Aunt Terri, seemingly also a resident (at least a constant presence) at the O’Shea home, is the least well-developed character in the play. We love her tone and her language, but it takes a long time to understand her place in the world. Her sad and difficult marriage is finally exploited in the second act, but it is too late for us to care about her. Damon delivers Terri as well as can be expected. She is at least a different voice and a different opinion on things. She takes over the story, and it is about time.

But still, it is John Baker who gives the play its true sense of comedy. As Linda and Becky’s father, he is allowed to question his own portrayals of Pastor Lovett and the gossipy Betty. He plays both roles with appropriate fervor and comments on them with equal energy. I truly enjoyed his work in this play.
Director Rand Foerster has kept this play moving as well as anyone could. He uses the author’s fervor and the characters’ needs in paramount fashion. He has the visual aid of Costume Designer Dawn McKay and Scenic Designer Matthew Whiton, who deliver the early 1970s very nicely. Kudos to the sound designer as well for his or her off-stage voices.
This may not be anyone’s favorite play of the year, but it satisfies on a cold winter night. If you need a laugh, this is your best choice. I guarantee you will never forget the birds-and-the-bees dialogue, and that may just be enough to satisfy anyone.
“Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help” plays at the Majestic Theater, 131 Elm Street, West Springfield, MA, through February 16. For information and tickets, visit the theater’s website or call (413) 747-7797.