Situated somewhat arbitrarily--- like a model-train set schoolhouse on a homasote platform balanced between two saw horses--- in the blink-and-you-missed-it borough of Macungie, better known for its daily onslaught of locomotives dragging an endless caravan of box cars and tankers that slice the village into halves forty times a day, sits The Macungie Institute, inside of which a rock solid production of Neil Simon's most critically acclaimed play, 'Lost in Yonkers', is presently enjoying a two week run, and you'd be ill-advised to miss it for anything else going on in the Lehigh Valley theater community at this time.
Less than a year producing shows on the regional arts scene, but nonetheless ably commanded, 'Between the Lines Studio Theatre' has baked a tasty fresh pie out of canned fruit and bread flour.
In other words, this concoction makes the most of an aged script and a fading world-view.
Self-financed and self-produced and self-designed, this BTL rendering delivers in all the right places.... steady direction; strong portrayals; wonderful accompanying sound; and warm and workable set, costumes, and lighting.
And that's a formidable achievement.
The stage, a shallow shoe box on a shelf at one end of the space, has been transformed beautifully by Eric Hersh, Director, Scenic & Sound Designer, into a cozy one-bedroom apartment above the family matriarch Grandma Kurnitz’s store.
Simon’s story is set in…. you got it… the never-to-be-mistaken-for-Macungie Yonkers, NYC, and revolves around two brothers, Arty, played by Tommy Potts, and Jay, by Gabe Gonzalez, who come to live with their grandmother, convincingly brought to life by Kathy Patterson with grace and no-nonsense fortitude, and with their guileless Aunt Bella, sweetly played by Rachel Williams, co-founder and co-producer of BTL.
Gonzalez is perfect in the role of protective brother and dutiful son, while Potts bobs back and forth between meek child and somewhat spoiled and obstinate adolescent.
Their father, Eddie, played by the contained but always sympathetic Brian Wendt, is forced to take a job as a traveling salesman desperately trying to scrape together enough money to provide a home for his sons.
Wendt is heart-rending as a loving father who finds he has no choice but to leave his sons with a mother he can scarcely abide.
Rounding out the family are Uncle Louie, a 40s style henchman played amusingly by Brooklyn accented wise guy Ryan MacNamara, hiding out due to undescribed nefarious business dealings, and Aunt Gert, drawn by Rachel Van Dyke who is engaging as the daughter who somehow eluded her mother’s clutches but who is plagued with a verbal tick as soon as she enters the apartment.
'Lost in Yonkers' continues through September 16, 2018 at The Macungie Institute, 510 Main Street, Macungie, Pa.
Friday and Saturday shows are at 730PM and Sunday at 300PM.
Tickets are $12/14.
For more information, please visit https://betweenthelinestheatre.com/home/