The Foursome, the Santa Clara Players’ latest production by Norm Foster, opened July 15 at the Hall Pavilion behind Triton Museum. While The Foursome isn’t part of the Players’ regular subscription series, it is still well worth seeing.
The Foursome features four college friends who meet up at their 15th College Reunion and decide to take in a round of golf so they can catch up with their friends’ lives over the years. While the discussion involves mundane things one might expect, it also delves into not-so-mundane topics such as colonoscopy, marriage, alcoholism, sterility, vasectomy, white lies, outright cons peppered with many puns. Lots of puns. All in the name of good fun and trying to relive those old times. In an interesting twist, each tee serves up as the scene for the next round of “Get to know the foibles and character flaws of each character.” But that fits with the title, and the lack of complicated sets works well in the intimate theatre.
Cameron is preoccupied with trying to relive college times, saying numerous times how he wishes everyone had stayed in touch better over the years. But during the round of golf his real concerns are revealed; insecurities over his marriage, life and wife. It’s revealed how Rick’s scheming wasn’t very popular with his friends then and now. Ted admits his father was an alcoholic, his wife left him because he’s sterile, he’s becoming a Buddhist to keep his new 20-something wife happy, and that he might just be an alcoholic himself. Meanwhile Donnie defines himself through his family of five children and a loving wife; becoming actively defensive about his happiness in the face of so much dysfunction. During these discussions, the puns flow freely to keep the scenes lively.
The Foursome runs through July 31 with shows on Saturday nights, July 23 and July 30 at 8 pm and Sunday afternoons, July 24 and July 31 at 2:30 pm. For more information on the Santa Clara Players, visit www.scplayers.org.
