“A Return to Love”
a Review by Ross Alan Bachelder of www.artsaplenty.me
Playwright Kathleen Sobel’s romantic comedy, “A Return to Love”— at Footlights Theatre in Falmouth through October 14—is really much, much more than a comedy.
Along with the rich potpourri of laughs in this production comes a poignant, heartwarming excursion into the inevitable, very human issues of growing older, experiencing late-in-life romance, repairing broken relationships, and learning to navigate the nearly always rewarding but occasionally treacherous waters of aging.
Sobel’s story is told within the charming confines of Gateway Gardens, an assisted living facility somewhere near you in the Land of Plenty.
Rosie (played by longtime Footlights veteran Pam Nutty) is the Recreation Director at Gateway, and in many ways the heart and soul of the place. Everyone—and I mean everyone—loves Rosie, and the truth of my assertion becomes increasingly evident as the story unfolds.
Nicholas P. Soloway, in the role of Barry, is, like Ms. Nutty, a familiar player on the Footlights stage. Barry is a Gateway resident thanks to Rec. Director Rosie, who’s convinced him he needs to be there for health reasons—to wit, a misbehaving heart—and also just happens to be the onetime fiancé of—perhaps you’ve guessed it already—Barry!
Rosie and Barry’s relationship at Gateway is understandably testy. After all, they were once on the very precipice of Holy Matrimony until, at the very last minute, Barry, suffering from typical male insecurities, got wet feet about the wedding and dumped the Girl of His Dreams—without even the slightest explanation—before his ring had even a fighting chance to make it onto her finger.
It’s when yet another resident, Jonas (played by longtime stage veteran Gary Penn in a truly impressive debut on the Footlights stage) joins the Gateway family that the elaborate plot of Sobel’s beautifully constructed play seriously begins—not unlike a freshly stirred bowl of Jell- O—to thicken. The sartorially costumed Jonas is dashing, personable, and —well—hungry, as usual, for some lovin’. And as the plot continues inexorably to unfold, you’ll learn what the man is truly made of and how (hint-hint) that worked out for him.
This is where I’m duty-bound to stop supplying you with any more of the storyline of this superbly-structured, skillfully written play. Why? Because I want all of you to have the exquisite pleasure of second- guessing, for better or worse, what on earth the next shocking, plot- upending complication will be.
And for what it’s worth, I also want you to know I absolutely adored the Opening Night performance!
As I see it, “A Return to Love” was a rare opportunity for theatre lovers old (like me) and new (like you, if you’re young and have only recently fallen in love with live theatre) to see a perfectly balanced onstage demonstration of superior acting, superior writing, and superior directing. It’s rare to have all three elements of a production come together with such well-timed, fast-moving, closeup-and-luscious, chamber ensemble harmony.
Those of us who’ve had intimate experience with Footlights Theatre and its founder and Executive Artistic Director, Michael J. Tobin, need to continue to heap on him our heartfelt praise for his accomplishments, while at the same time passing on to others—the yet-to-be-initiated—just how high in quality Footlights productions really are.
As I’ve said so many times while reviewing Footlights performances, I hope you’ll get down to Footlights, sometime between now and October 14, and see for yourself why I so consistently applaud this playhouse, its Director, and anyone else—whether onstage or offstage—for their consistent excellence and obvious devotion to live theatre. The bountiful messages in “A Return to Love” will bring warmth to your heart and joy from the privilege of being still very much around and Alive for the Ride.
— Ross Alan Bachelder www.artsaplenty.me September 29, 2023
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The BOX OFFICE for Footlights Theatre— located at 190 US-1 in Falmouth and only 15 minutes from downtown Portland— is open 24-7! For reservations, call 207-747-5434.
SHOWTIMES: THURSDAYS 7pm; FRIDAYS 7:30pm; SATURDAYS 2pm Matinees & 7:30pm Evening
ALSO: Footlights Director Michael J. Tobin wants you to know,
personally, that WALK-INS are WELCOME!
For detailed directions to Footlights Theatre, go to https:// www.thefootlightstheatre.com/.