The Octette Bridge Club in Perfect Setting

The Players at the Barker Theater at 400 Benefit Street in Providence start their 107th Season with The Octette Bridge Club. The play, written in 1985 by P.J. Barry, has been performed in over 850 theaters since that time. Barry was born and grew up in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The Octette Bridge Club has been performed in more than 850 theaters since 1985, including on Broadway. The Barker has extended the stage out beyond the proscenium. It works wonderfully to bring the action right out to the audience.

The charm of the play is due to the details of ordinary family life of a bygone time. It’s a glimpse into Barry’s private life – a time long before cell phones, computers, and even television. The Octette Bridge Club is about the lives of his eight sisters in their large Catholic family. Like all families, they don’t always get along. In their adult lives, most married and with children, the eight sisters gather every other Friday night for a game of bridge, to play and chat. Set in Providence in 1934, names of places will be familiar, and the old, historic Barker lends itself perfectly to the sense of time, along with the music emanating from the old Victrola on set.

Cait Calvo has brought together this diverse group of actresses and formed them into a family. One can readily recognize their sibling behavior. Martha (Eliza Collins) is the no-nonsense, clearly dominant oldest of the sisters. She took on the role of substitute mother early in life and continues on, even though all of the sisters are grown. Martha insists that things be done her way, a directive no longer needed. It is difficult to break out of childhood roles, but we see how damaging that can be. The sisters’ quick patter is familiar, yet old figures of speech from the time make us listen carefully.

There’s always a clown, the cut-up in a group. That’s Connie (Nancy Winokoor), the third born sister. Winokoor throws herself into the persona of Connie. She acts up with abandon to divert attention from an awkward moment, or simply lighten the mood. Ann (Trisha McManus) and Alice (Pamela Morgan) are in the middle, age-wise, and make themselves useful being as knowledgeable and efficient as they can. Mary (Marcia A. Layden), the second born, is the calm presence when the group borders on cruel behavior.  Layden gives a glowing performance, even when life deals her character a tough blow. Lil (Kim Harper) the self-absorbed, always hungry seventh-born, has a glorious singing voice put to good use in the play. Nora (Karen Besson) is the rebellious one, lucky in love, and chooses not to attend a service set up by Martha, the oldest.

Even in a large family, the youngest, the baby, can become demanding since they are often given all the attention. No so in this play. Betsy (Kathleen Povar), the youngest, is often ignored, stepped on, metaphorically when speaking, and appears to be a bit slow. So she has become neurotic, although her sisters don’t seem too concerned about it. Betsy worries that she’ll end up in an asylum.

The Octette Bridge Club continues at the Barker through October 9 and 10 at 8pm and on October 11 at 2pm. For more information or tickets please call 401-273-0590 or visit playersri.org.