By Shirley Lorraine –
Not much happens in rural Oklahoma, except at Bob’s Diner, a family-run eatery that is a gathering place for locals and then some. Written and directed by Kimberly Demmary, the small-town flavor of everybody knows everybody, collective caring and ultimate forgiveness is evident.
The Diner delivers a healthy serving of laughs throughout as well as a few twists and turns. It is a typical day at The Diner, run by Bob Moreton (Don McGreevy) and his wife Bea (Sindy McKay). Daughter Nikki (Catie Sayeg) waitresses after a failed relationship lands her back at home.
All is well until the errant beau, Brody Coolidge (Jacob Trapp) returns to run unopposed for Mayor, a job for which he is neither suited nor qualified, except in the confidence department. Things get sticky when he tries to re-establish his relationship with Nikki to boost his public opinion. Brody’s brother Ryan, the town sheriff (Drew Orlando), also has feelings for Nikki but is reluctant to show them.
Meanwhile, for reasons unexplained, the sheriff brings a socialite, Lorelai McAster (Angela DeCicco), arrested for drunken driving, to work at the diner for a brief period instead of staying in jail. As she is reluctantly trying to learn the ropes of waitressing, the story deepens.
Mr. Aronovich (Ray Mastrovito), a diner regular, adds a jocular tone to his ever-changing daily order and Willy Wilson (Patrick Rogers) vainly attempts to get anyone’s attention. The Moreton’s older daughter Sissy (Emily Vallance) is on the verge of giving birth, keeping everyone on the edge of expectation.
Newscaster Amber Kelly (Vanessa Angelique) is on assignment covering the mayoral “race” carrying baggage of her own. Overall, everyone is connected in some way or another and it is fun to disentangle the various goings-on.
The characters are played with Southern abandon and home-town charm. The plot is complicated and yet simple at the same time, with many underlying clues. It’s just fun and not meant to be deeply examined.
One particularly enjoyable part was the rapid slinging of diner-lingo by McKay. After all, who wouldn’t want an order of fish eyes (tapioca pudding) or a shingle with a shimmy and shake (buttered toast with jam)?
Tapp seems to be having the most fun of any of the cast, playing the gregarious, obnoxious, and outrageous Brody, a wanna-be politician who has no business in politics. He thoroughly engages the audience and plays it up well.
The interactions between Bea and Lorelai show the depth of two seasoned actors to full advantage. Mastrovito, too, is solid as a long-time patron enjoying the diner as a brief respite from caring for his wife who is in hospice.
The Diner provides a welcome diversion of laughter and silliness with an undercurrent of heart and sincerity. Now is a good time to catch a performance while you can.
The Diner runs through July 6. No performance on Friday, July 4. www.theElite.org or 805-483-5118
