by Anne Marie Allocca
A suggestion to form a theater group became a reality last January, when the Wesley Players were born. Currently comprising about 20 members, the Players hit the boards with their first production, Neil Simon's "God's Favorite," last spring, and it was well-received by the community. Their second effort, Ernest Thompson's "On Golden Pond," had its final performance last Sunday.
Plays are chosen by the group's reading committee. Then a casting call is sent out. After a read-through, rehearsals are usually held twice a week until the play's opening. Members of the congregation help behind the scenes as well, donating their talents as stage managers and set designers, even baking goodies for intermission. Rosita Castronuova was responsible for scenery and painted the view of Golden Pond herself, impressing the company with her artistic flair.
Stewart Gregory, who co-directed "On Golden Pond" with Tom Batik, has been involved in theatre for 30 years, and worked with St. John's Theatre Company in North Valley Stream. He is thrilled to see his town have its own repertory company. "This is the first group in Franklin Square that I'm aware of, and I've been in Franklin Square for over 30 years," Gregory said proudly, adding that comedies are crowd pleasers. "As a new group, right now we're trying to establish a core audience, which a comedy will do. Drama does not draw, even though it is a viable part of theater, so we'll hold off on that while we establish ourselves." The next production will be in the spring, although the play hasn't been chosen yet.
The Wesley Players are from the congregation, but Gregory welcomes outsiders to join. "Anybody who has a love for theater is welcome," he said. "If you love theater, you'll love being involved. It's a lot of self-satisfaction. Everybody gets something different from it. It is a labor of love."
"It's also a great way to be somebody else for a while," said Vaughan, who performed in college productions and portrayed Norman Thayer in "On Golden Pond." Many members of the company have made their acting debuts, including 12-year-old Biker Helmkamp, who played Billy Ray. "My mom had the idea. She likes to help out with the church," he said, admitting he enjoyed treading the boards for the first time.
While the company gets satisfaction from performing, those who benefit most are members of the community. "There are a lot of seniors in Franklin Square," said Vaughan. "They like to get out and see plays. I'm ecstatic about it. It's great for the church." And great for Franklin Square as well.
