Greensburg Civic Theatre's 'Over the Tavern' digs deep into family, faith

During the idealized Eisenhower era of the 1950s, 12-year-old Rudy Pazinski starts to question his family’s values and the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church to which they belong.

That’s the set-up for “Over the Tavern,” the Tom Dudzick play that opens Greensburg Civic Theatre’s 70th season. The production will be staged at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center.

There’s a lot going on in the Pazinski family’s cramped Buffalo apartment above the tavern run by Rudy’s father, Chet. There’s tension between Rudy’s parents and added drama from each of his three siblings.

But hell really breaks loose when the smart, wise-cracking Rudy tells strict Sister Clarissa at his parochial school that, instead of being confirmed, he’d rather shop around for a more “fun” religion.

Despite the ultimately hopeful ending, it’s not “Leave It to Beaver” or “Father Knows Best.” GCT notes the playwright uses some “mild adult language.”

“I’m your typical Catholic school nun in 1959, a strict disciplinarian with a clicker, a ruler and a catechism book in hand,” said Mary Ferrara of Vandergrift, who plays Sister Clarissa. “Her job is to get the kids confirmed, and (Rudy) is not having a lot of it.

“He has a lot of questions, and I get very frustrated with him.”

It turns out that Sister Clarissa also taught Rudy’s father, whose dysfunctional upbringing is reflected in his relationships with his wife and children.

“When I meet with (Rudy) and his family and see how they interact, I see how things go back to the father and his home life and what I perceive as their home life cycle,” Ferrara said. “I try to help the family and end up confessing the role I had in making it.”

Digging in

The play “is very deep. It digs into the characters to try to understand where they’re coming from,” Ferrara said.

This is Ferrara’s first production with GCT, though she is a veteran of The Theatre Factory, Apple Hill Players and New Kensington Civic Theatre. It’s actually her third time playing a nun.

“I worked in public education for 35 years, but this is my first time on stage with kids,” she said.

“The role of Rudy was written for a 12 year old, but what’s so great is that the young boy playing him is 10,” said director Sue Kurey of North Versailles, also working for the first time with GCT.

“It’s a really great opportunity to work with both adults and kids,” said Kurey, who also has worked with The Theatre Factory and South Park Theatre.

Sometimes it’s hard to keep the younger cast members focused, she said, but “when you see the spark in the kids’ eyes when they really get it, it’s really rewarding.”

Jack Munkittrick of Murrysville plays Rudy. The cast also includes Frankie Shoup of Delmont as Chet Pazinski and Margaret Ryan of Murrysville as mom Ellen Pazinski. The other Pazinski kids are Jared Miller of Harrison City as Eddie, Colleen Boatright of North Huntingdon as Annie and Tika Gill of Trafford as Georgie.

Phil Boatright of North Huntingdon is stage manager.

“Over the Tavern” is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts Inc.

Advance tickets are $16, $14 for senior citizens and $11 for students. Add $2 with purchase at the door.

GCT requests that audience members wear masks indoors, though it is not required. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available in the lobby.

Details: thepalacetheatre.org