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as a “family comedy drama.” When he initially read the play, which was first performed in 2011 and is just now making its New York City debut, “I thought it was For Rosemary Kurtz, “Making God Laugh,” now in very funny, very relatable.” mid-run at Douglaston Community Theatre, is the latIt’s “very current,” he added, saying that audiences est in a long line of dramatic roles that have kept her will likely have much to take away from the perforfront and center on local stages for years. The show mances. Marshall hopes, among other things, they will marks the dramatic debut for fellow cast member Tara feel more strongly about the importance of uncondiMangione. tional love and acceptance. “It’s something we need In the play, under the direction of Joe Marshall, right now.” Kurtz and Mangione play mother and daughter, Through gatherings at Thanksgiving, Christmas, respectively, and, by all accounts, their relationship is New Year’s Eve and Easter, each 10 years apart, the not a simple one. In fact, Marshall refers to it as family reveals a great deal about their plans as well as “unhealthy.” some dark secrets. Kurtz is Ruthie, who, the actress said, “is domineerSome of Ruthie’s secrets are hidden from her family, ing. She likes to control people. Her daughter wants to Kurtz said. “We soon see she has a lot of darkness in be her own person.” She calls Ruthie’s relationship with her past.” her daughter “a little cold, a little contentious. They’re That is one of the reasons Marshall was drawn to Staging Sean Grennan’s “Making God Laugh” at Douglaston Commuvery different people.” The play, Kurtz continued, is “a slice of life.” Written nity Theatre are Tara Mangione, left, Rosemary Kurtz, James Brauti- the play. “That just fascinated me so much, how she PHOTO BY JK LARKIN treats her kids by suppressing her natural tendencies,” by Sean Grennan, it follows one typical American fami- gam, Christopher Tyrkko and Matt Benincasa. he said. ly over the course of 30 years’ worth of holidays, Advertisements for the play warn of “mild adult lanShe went on to say that Maddie is “very outspoken, the beginning in 1980. To help her bring her character to life, “There are many black sheep of the family. She goes to New York to pursue guage.” Still, Marshall says it is appropriate for most everyone. “In this day and age, there’s nothing they haven’t heard things I can draw from my own life,” Kurtz said. “I certainly her dreams” of becoming an actor. In some ways, Mangione’s not like her character at all. “I before,” he said. had a difficult relationship in my family.” And Ruthie, who Remaining performances at Zion Episcopal Church Parish ages from 50 to 80 during the course of the play, begins to have a wonderful relationship with my mother,” she said, but develop dementia, an illness with which Kurtz is all too famil- admitted that there has been “a little bit of tension with Hall (at 243-20 Church St., off Douglaston Parkway in Douglaston) are on Nov. 10, 11 and 18 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 11 and other family members.” iar. Both her parents died with it. The cast is rounded out by Matt Benincasa, James Brauti- 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22, or $20 for students and seniors. Mangione, a native of Little Neck, says the young woman For more information, go online to dctonline.org or call she plays, Maddie, “is very close to my personality. I’m act- gam and Christopher Tyrkko as other members of the family. Q Despite many tense moments, Marshall refers to the play (718) 885-4785. ing but not acting.”
by Mark Lord
qboro contributor
Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 9, 2023
Family drama also has comedy — just like yours!
Silver screen legends are reunited at MoMI
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tion as a major star was rehabilitated. “‘The Philadelphia Story’ sort of holds the larger place in the popular consciousness,” Choi said. “But ‘Holiday’ explored the same themes about people who are young but no longer that young; people in their 20s or their 30s, who are juggling with the confusions of that transitional moment from early adulthood to middle age. I think ‘Holiday’ almost does it in a more pure form than ‘The Philadelphia Story.’” The museum is at 36-01 35 Ave. “Bringing up Baby” shows at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12. “Holiday” is at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24; 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25; and 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. “The Philadelphia Story” runs at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10; 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15; and 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. Tickets are $15, $11 for seniors and stu-
Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in “Holiday,” with Doris Nolan, left, and Lew Ayres, above, and getting close at left. On the cover: The two attempt to lasso a leopard in PHOTOS COURTESY SONY AND, COVER, CRITERION PICTURES “Bringing up Baby.” dents and $9 for ages 3 to 17. The shows on Dec. 1 and 15 are $5 for seniors and guests with disabilities with IDs. Tickets can be bought online at movingimage.us. After “The Philadelphia Story,” though both were prolific, they never teamed up again. Choi doesn’t read too much into that.
“I don’t know if something happened or anything happened,” he said. “Stars of that period were under contract to studios, so in a lot of respects they didn’t have much control over their own destinies, what projects they were attached to ... We would have to Q ask their biographers.”
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continued from page 23 not do particularly well critically or at the box office. It was released amid this period where Hepburn had been labeled boxoffice poison. And I think it generally was overlooked. It didn’t receive any Oscar nominations with the exception of a nomination for art direction.” He said it really wasn’t until the two were paired in “The Philadelphia Story,” also helmed by Cukor, that Hepburn’s reputa-
