Summertree

by Ron Cowen

 

Synopsis: As the New York Times outlines: "Mr. Cowen's hero, just about to turn twenty, is discovered dreaming in the backyard (or is it less friendly territory?) and the action of the play is mostly what happens in his head as he surveys his life up to this particular afternoon. Going backward and forward in time with the swiftness of reverie, we see the young man's relationships with his well-meaning but obtuse father, his loving but possessive mother, his compliant but unsentimental girlfriend. The father keeps after him to dress better, make a lot of friends, stick to business, 'be a man.' The mother shuttles between a desire to see him out of the nest and a yen to keep him at home. The girlfriend will be faithful to him while he's in the Army; but, of course, she'll go to the movies with other fellows. Another character is a neighbor boy, in effect the hero's little brother and sometimes in effect, the hero as a kid. And there is a soldier who helps spell out the true location of this friendly summertree." Which is, ultimately, Vietnam, and a battle from which there will be no return. But the life cycle goes on, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but filled, always, with the bittersweet memories which must become, in the final essence, all that we can truly hold onto.

 

Cast

Young Man	Doug Woodruff
Little Boy	Paul Bedell
Mother	Cherie Shuck
Father	Brian Winfield
Girl	Ann Marie Wester
Soldier	Harold Lang

 

Creative Team

Director	Tice L. Miller
Assistant Director	Joyce Bliss
Scenic Designer	George W. Loudon
Lighting Designer	Pete Raby
Sound & Music Coordinator	Steve Sheetz
Stage Manager	Bob Tiller
University Theatre Manager	Jane Tiller
Costume Mistress	Martha Harris
Property Mistress	Dee Dee Harwood