Fifth of July - The Pear Avenue Theatre

The Pear Avenue Theatre proudly presentsFifth of Julyby Lanford WilsonDirectorTroy JohnsonProducerDiane TascaSet DesignerRon GasparinettiSound DesignersJeanie & Gordon SmithLighting DesignerBrendan AanesStage ManagerSara SparksProduced by special permission of Dramatists’ Play Service, Inc.

The Ensemble (in order of appearance)Kenneth Talley............................... Michael ChamplinJed Jenkins .................................... Sean FaulkJohn Landis .................................. Alan PhinneyGwen Landis ................................ Xanadu BruggersJune Talley .................................... Katie O’BryonShirley Talley ................................ Citlali PizarroWeston Hurley .............................. Tom OsborneSally Friedman .............................. Carolyn PowerThe play takes place in Lebanon, Missouri, on July 4-5, 1977.There will be a 15-minute intermission between Act 1 and Act 2.The Production TeamDirector ...................................... Troy JohnsonProducer ..................................... Diane TascaStage Manager ............................ Sara SparksSet Designer ............................... Ron GasparinettiLighting Designer...................... Brendan AanesCostume Designer .................... Diane TascaSound Designers ....................... Gordon Smith & Jeanie K. SmithProduction Manager ................. Patricia TylerMaster Carpenter ....................... Charles McKeithanPublicity Directors .................... Jeanie K. Smith & Shannon StowePostcard Designer ..................... Patricia TylerProgram Consultant .................. Susan PetitWebsite Designer ...................... Ray RenatiDirector’s NoteWhat do you do when things don’t turn out as you hoped? When your lifechanges in ways that leave you paralyzed? Do you run? Ignore it all? Turn to thebottle or other substances?Not long after the Vietnam War ended, Lanford Wilson was struck byhow quickly the idealism of the late 1960s, the hopes for a world of peace andlove, harmony and understanding, deteriorated into the self-serving me! Me!ME! obsessions of the 1970s. And so he decided to write a play about it.In his playwriting class, Wilson met a student with artificial limbs, andthis man became the inspiration for the character of Ken in Fifth of July. Anotherstudent suggested that people with artificial limbs probably didn’t like to belooked at. This observation piqued Wilson to explore the mindset of someonecontending with a physical loss—in this case, a hippie(ish) veteran who returnsfrom Vietnam burdened with medals, artificial legs, and profound ambivalenceabout his future. Wilson realized that it made the most sense to set the eventsin his hometown, Lebanon, Missouri, because as much as the play is aboutmoving on, it is also about going home, settling in, accepting the support ofloved ones. Besides being thematically rich, the play is witty, it’s hilarious, it’sbittersweet—and it’s heartbreaking. And, given current events, Fifth of July feelsas timely now as it did a generation ago.This play became the first in a dramatic trilogy about the Talley family.During rehearsals for Fifth of July, the actress portraying Sally asked about hercharacter’s relationship with her late husband, Matt Friedman. This question ledWilson to create his Pulitzer Prize-winning Talley’s Folly, in which Sally and Mattrealize that they are meant for each other. And the third play of the trilogy,Talley & Son, explores what was going on at the Talley house while Matt andSally were discovering each other in the boathouse.But back to the question: What DO you do when your world fallsapart? Wilson offers a few eloquent answers. The saving grace is to survive. Andwe could do worse than to emulate those science-fiction explorers in the storyKen Talley reads, who discover that there is no life beyond earth. Instead ofbeing sad, they were happy because they knew then “that it was up to them tobecome all the things they imagined they would find.”Lanford Wilson passed away this past March. He left behind a legacy ofrichly human plays, with complex characters. I hope this production will leadyou to seek out more of this great writer’s work. —Troy Johnson, September, 2011AcknowledgmentsFor their contributions to this production, the Pear thanks the followingindividuals and organizations:Patricia Tyler Broadway West Bus Barn Stage CompanyKai Morrison Esther Pizarro Mike OlsonAbout the Play and the PlaywrightLanford Wilson (1937-2011) was born in Lebanon, Missouri, and grew up in theOzarks. His father left when Wilson was five, and the boy was raised by hismother, who remarried. In 1956 Wilson went to California to live with hisfather, and the six unhappy months he spent working as a riveter and attendingSan Diego State are reflected in his 1968 play Lemon Sky. When he was workingin Chicago at an advertising agency and planning to be an artist, Wilson

discovered his talent for dialog and decided that he was a playwright. A tall,skinny, long-haired bundle of energy and determination, he moved to NewYork in 1962, because it was virtually the only place where small theatres wereproducing new works. Soon he was writing hilarious and daring short plays forthe Off-Off-Broadway venues of La MaMa and Caffe Cino.In 1969 Wilson and three friends founded the Circle Repertory, whichsoon became the major Off-Off-Broadway company and inspired the creation ofsmall nonprofit theatres around the country. Working with the Rep’s idealisticyoung ensemble gave Wilson experience with every aspect of theatre. His bestknownplays (all written between 1973 and 1987) were first staged at Circle Rep:Hot l Baltimore, 5 th of July, Talley’s Folly, Angels Fall, and Burn This. His style, whichwas inspired by Dickens and Twain as well as Miller, Williams, and Chekhov, isoften called lyrical realism, but he called it “mak[ing] music out of the Americanvoice.” His works include 17 full-length plays, libretti, and translations; amonghis many honors and awards are the 1980 Pulitzer Prize for drama and the 2010Artistic Achievement Award for Off-Off-Broadway productions.After 5 th of July (1978) was revised as Fifth of July (1979), it went toBroadway, where Christopher Reeve and later Richard Thomas played Ken, andSwoosie Kurtz won a Tony for her portrayal of Gwen. Wilson has said that themain theme in his plays is work, and vocation is a key issue for Ken, Jed, andGwen in Fifth of July. Significantly, July 5 is the day when one gets back to workafter the holiday; July 5 also happens to be the date when Wilson arrived inNew York to pursue his career. A related theme, raised most clearly by Wes’s“Eskimo folk story,” is heroic actions, not the kind that resulted in Ken’s fivemedals but actions with “saving results.” Questions of social justice, capitalism,prejudice, responsibility, and idealism also run through Fifth of July. Sexualorientation, on the other hand, is not a theme but a given; this is one of the firstplays to present a gay protagonist without focusing on gay issues. Typically forWilson, place is important. The Talley house is based on a home heremembered from his childhood and on a house in Sag Harbor, Long Island,built in 1845, that Wilson bought in 1970 and gradually restored. Creating itsgarden was one of his passions. The play’s continuing power was shown by a2003 production starring Robert Sean Leonard and Parker Posey that won theLucille Lortel Award for outstanding off-Broadway revival.A local note: Other long-time Bay Area theatregoers may remember—as I do—productions of Hot l Baltimore, 5th of July, Angels Fall, and Burn Thismounted by ACT almost as soon as the plays appeared in New York. (ACT’s1979 production of 5 th of July featured Mark Murphey as Ken, Barbara Diricksonas Gwen, Joy Carlin as Sally, and Isiah Whitlock as Wes.) And even morelocally, a handsome production of Talley’s Folly was staged in 1983 at theStanford Theatre before it was restored as a cinema by the Packard Foundation.--Susan Petit, September 2011Who’s Who in This ProductionXanadu Bruggers (Gwen Landis) is thrilled to be sharing the stage with thesewonderful actors! A stage and film actor, she has appeared in Seattle and BayArea theatres, including Seattle Shakespeare, Cal Shakes, No Nude MenProductions, Custom Made Theatre, Renegade Theatre Experiment, WOWFestival, Town Hall Theatre of Lafayette, Diablo Actors Ensemble, ContraCosta Musical Theatre, and many more. She is a proud teacher of theatre at BerkeleyPlayhouse and has taught for the last three years at THT of Lafayette. She would like tothank her friends, Mom and Dad, and her wonderful boyfriend Kai for all their love andsupport in pursuing her dreams.Michael Champlin (Kenneth Talley) is thrilled to be on the Pear stage again,and in a very special performance for him, indeed. Three and a half years agoMichael was in the wonderful Pear production of Northanger Abbey, where hemet and performed alongside Katie O’Bryon, who plays his sister in thiscurrent performance. Two weeks after Fifth of July closes, Michael will have the joy ofmarrying the lovely Ms. O’Bryon. He is a very lucky man, and he knows it! Michaeldedicates this performance with much thanks and love to everyone at the Pear, to Katie,and as always, to his son, Jack—it’s all about you!Sean Faulk (Jed Jenkins) is extremely excited to be a part of the Pear’sproduction of Fifth of July, which will mark his first show out of college. Hewould like to thank the wonderful cast and crew for all the good times.Katie O’Bryon (June Talley) is delighted to return to the Pear stage—she waslast seen here in Northanger Abbey. Recent performances include Sylvia (Sylvia)at Bus Barn, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Lucetta) with SF Shakespeare Festival,and Sweet Charity (Charity) at West Valley Light Opera. She studied theatre artsat UC Santa Cruz and is a proud graduate of the Dell’Arte InternationalSchool of Physical Theatre. Katie feels lucky to have a “day job” in the theatre—whennot onstage she works as a director, choreographer, mask maker, or drama teacher forvarious Bay Area companies. Katie feels even luckier to be marrying fellow actorMichael Champlin at the end of October.Tom Osborne (Weston Hurley) is thrilled to be making his Pear AvenueTheatre debut. Originally from San Francisco, he graduated from theUniversity of the Arts in Philadelphia with a B.F.A. in acting. Previous creditsinclude Carousel (Jigger), FateBook (Darren), ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore (Florio), ACry of Players (William Shakespeare), Up the Down Staircase (Joe Ferrone), As You Like It(Duke Senior), Romeo amd Juliet (Lord Capulet) and Bleacher Bums (Cheerleader). Tomwould like to thank God, his friends, and his family for their endless love and support,Troy for this great opportunity, and the brilliant cast and crew of this wonderful show.Alan Phinney (John Landis) sings and performs occasionally at severalPeninsula theatres, mostly recently as Mike Connor in The Philadelphia Story atHillbarn Theatre. He’s delighted to be in his first show at the inspiring Pear.

Citlali Pizarro (Shirley Talley) was born in Moscow, Idaho; she is thirteenyears old and in the eighth grade. This is her tenth play, and the role ofShirley Talley is one of her favorites. Along with theatre, she also playssoccer and is an avid artist. She hopes you enjoy the show.Carolyn Power (Sally Friedman) portrayed a dementia patient in “Grey’sAnatomy” on ABC and a nurse in “Chuck” on NBC. Stage productions includeCollected Stories (Essential Action Productions), Top Girls (Ross Valley Players),The Clean House and Romeo and Juliet (Woman’s Will), The Gingerbread Lady(Dragon Productions), Pericles (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), Romeo and Juliet (MarinShakespeare Company), and Peter & Wendy (Town Hall Theatre). Film work includesGreens and Imprint. She holds an M.A. in theatre from SF State. She wishes to thankacting coaches Nancy Berwid (First Take) and Bobby Weinapple (Seydways Studios) forteaching her to stretch her acting wings. And she thanks husband David Perlstein for 42wonderful years!Brendan Aanes (Lighting Designer) has designed lights and sound for a variety of localproductions at venues including SF Playhouse, Marin Shakespeare, Berkeley Playhouse,Pear Avenue Theater, Mills College, and more.Ron Gasparinetti (Scenic Designer) was born and raised in Newark, NJ. He attendedEssex Catholic High School and Montclair State University, where he earned his B.F.A.degree in technical theatre with a scenic design concentration. Ron worked the nightshift for the Newark police department while in college, graduating in 1986. He hasworked steadily since then as a technical director, scenic designer, lighting designer,props designer, and production manager—sometimes all at once! He even ventured intothe field of acting for a short time. In the last 30 years, Ron has been involved with over400 productions.Troy Johnson (Director) has been directing in the South Bay for the past fifteen years.Fifth of July is the first full-length play that Troy has directed at the Pear, though he haspreviously co-directed five iterations of Pear Slices and will embark on a sixth Pear Slicesthis spring. Recent directing credits elsewhere include Enchanted April and Bus Stop atBroadway West Theatre Company in Fremont and Will Huddleston’s musicaladaptation of The Jungle Book for Festival Theatre Ensemble’s Los Gatos ShakespeareFestival. As always, Troy would like to thank YOU for supporting live theatre.Jeanie Smith & Gordon Smith (Sound Designers) loved working on this classic play withsuch a talented cast and crew!Sara Sparks (Stage Manager) is back for another fabulous season at the Pear, where sheworked as the stage manager for A Connecticut Yankee and Death of a Salesman last season.Other favorite jobs include production assistant and light board operator for EveryChristmas Story Ever Told; assistant lighting designer for The Great American Trailer ParkMusical; light/sound board operator for Red, White and Tuna at San Jose Stage, andspotlight operator for Fly By Night at TheatreWorks. Sara graduated from UCSC with aBachelor of Arts in theatre arts in 2008.

Donors to the PearRoot$ : $1000 +Anonymous * Arts Council Silicon Valley * Evelyn BeamerNorman Beamer & Diane Tasca * The BootStrap FoundationThe Carter Family Foundation * Catherine GarberKathleen Hall & Leslie Murdock * Sharmon Hilfinger &Luis Trabb Pardo * Richard & Anita Inz * Ann KuchinsRoberta Morris & Phil Buchsbaum * Valerie PagendarmMark & Theresa Rowland * Jan & Don SchmidekSilicon Valley Community FoundationAbe & Marian Sofaer * Theatre Bay AreaLloyd Watts * Dr. Thomasyne Lightfoote WilsonBranche$ : $200 - $999Connie Allen & Doug Grieg * Beverley & Lee Altschuler * AnonymousCarol & Ray Bacchetti * Rhoda Bergen * Martin Billik * Robyn &Paul Braverman * Sandy Cademartori * Jean Colby * Jo Ellen EllisDiane Ellsworth * Carol & Ken Emmons * Rebecca Ennals &Adam Wisnewski * Nancy Enzminger * Genevieve FirestoneTom & Charlene Giannetti * Sharon Graham * Kurt GravenhorstFlorence Howard * Barbara Ingram * Robin Jeffs * Margy KahnTerry & Mauri Kearney * William & Peg Kenney * Coralia KuchinsThe Phil Kurjian Fund * Joan Little & Marty RagnoElizabeth Lowenstein * The Lowney Family FundMargaret Lynch * Rina & Tom Mandey * Elyce Melmon * Robert &Eloise Morgan * Carole & Edward Mullowney * Alan PhinneyBoaz & Aliza Porat Lindi Press * Jo Ann & Doug ReesRay & Katherine Renati * Vivian Schatz * Martha SeaverEdna & Dan Shochat * John D. StephensDana St. George & Gerry Gras * Patti & Wally SummersGloria Symon * Time-Warner, Inc * Mary Lou TorreOnnolee & Orlin Trapp * Don & Sylvie Way * Mike WilberPear$: $100 - $199Creighton Asato * Anne & Greg Avis * Candice Basham * Roslyn &Arthur Bienenstock * Judith Bishop * Tom & Polly Bredt * Louise &Robert Burton * Ariel & Pat Calonne * Mary Carter & Mark RobertsHarve & Sandra Citrin * Joseph Colletti * Susan & Harry DennisCharlotte Dickson * Walt Doucett & Sally Hayse * Dave & Ruth EakinEmily & Par Edsell * Kathy & Bruce Fitzgerald * Frank Friedlander * Victor &Beverly Fuchs * Bennett & Joan Gates * Dr. & Mrs. B.D. GaynorAdrienne Gillespie * Lynn Gordon & David Simon * Martha & Bob HelselthGabrielle Higgins & Bill Steinmetz * Charlotte Jacobs * Kevin &Melinda Johnson * Christina & Deepak Kamra * Pat Kapowich * Kay MahonTerrence McCarthy * Mary & Thomas Nee * Ross & Cate Nelson * Jim &Barbara Newton * Laura Nuhn * Jill O’Nan * Judy Ousterhout * Natalie &Peter Panfili * Boaz Porat * Alex & Laura Praszker * Frances & DonaldRagno * Jennifer & Donald Ragno * Betty & Joe Renati * Tracy &Cynthia Rogers * Gary Rohloff *Antoinette & Dey RoseSusan Rosenberg * Bill & Sherrean Rundberg * Thomas & Noel Ryan * ElaineSausotte & Michael Keys Hall * Amy Schenone * Rebecca Schenone * NormaSchleunes * Steve Schumann * Christina & Maurice Sciammas * Lewis SilverLaura Stefanski * Maggie Streets * Carol & Douglas Tanner David & OndreaTricaso * Lynne Weber * Robert Wenzlau & Julie JomoCaryn Huberman YacowitzBlossom$: To $99Josephine Abel * Marlene Anderson * Midori Aogaichi * Shawna BatemanJane Benson * Mitchell Bolen * Gordon & Sharon Bower * Marina BrodskayaMr. & Mrs. Frank Carney * Daryl Carr * Harold Chapman * Judy ChiassonFrank & Lorraine Collins * Dorothy Comstock * Caroline CooperDavid & Anne-Ly Crump-Garay * Jean Cudlip * Nancy DavidsonAllison Davis * Monica Devens * Bill Dodd * Joseph Durand * Deborah DuttonDoris Dyen * Nicole & Donald Ellis * Liz Elms * James & Dorothy FadimanOscar & Theda Firschein * Jewel Seehaus Fisher * Ronald Gentile * Jo GilbertAdrienne Gillespie * Elaine Goldman * Dean GoodmanIrene Grenier *Frances Hancock * Toni Heren * Byron Hubbel * Patricia HughesChristy Jerkovich * Earl Karn * Siobhan Kenney * Lisa LaRocca * Ernest LiebermanDena McFarland * Kathleen McGeary * Cheryl McNamara * Richard Medugno * Tekla& Eric Nee * Clare Novak * David Payne * Patricia Peterson * Susan PetitJack & Susan Pines * Christine Wills Price * Toby Reitman * Lester RobertsSteven Rock * Diana Roome * Elaine Rossignol * Robert RothrockJean Scandlyn * Janine Schenone * Matt Schenone * Ray SchenoneGerry Schoennaueram * Allegra Seale * Julia Seiff * Barbara & Skip ShapiroMyrna Soper * Verna & Robert Spinrad * Nancy Ginsburg Stern * Burton SukhovKevin & Barbara Susco * Beverley Taylor * Elizabeth Truro & James QuinnPatricia Tyler & Ben Marks * Hava & Oskar Vierny * Sherry Waki * Kristin WalterMarilyn Walter * Lisa Wiseman * Vivie Zau * Irene Zubeck

NEXT UP AT THE PEARMauritiusby Theresa Rebeck11/4 – 20The bequest of a stamp album fans the flamesof greed and sibling rivalry, as two half-sisters andseveral shady characters fight over someextremely pricey stamps.Crackling dialogue, psychological complexity,black humor, and a tense, surprising plotmake Mauritius a thrilling, entertaining play.(Stamp collecting as a blood sport—who knew?)