Comedy ‘Squabbles’ opens at Mielke Arts Center Thursday

There’s no argument that you’ll laugh at the latest comedy, Squabbles, opening at the Mielke Arts Center in Shawano Thursday.

The play, directed by Jeff Vollendorf, asks a question many more people ask today than when the play was written in 1982 by Marshall Karp: “What if I don’t get senile?”

Vollendorf said the overall story will resonate with a lot of people in the audience.

“It’s an honest story about family,” he said. “It’s built as a comedy, but is more of a drama with comedic lines.”

It comes from Abe Dreyfus, an irascible 73-year-old retired taxi-cab driver who is living with his well-off daughter, Alice Sloan and her husband, Jerry. Abe likes to say, “An argument a day keeps the doctor away.”

Abe is also a bigot. Some of the stereotypical things said in this play perhaps wouldn’t be written today. But plays always have been a freer form of expression, and what Abe says defines his personality.

Emil Kriewaldt plays the part of Abe, and said he fits that character well.

“I guess he’s me,” Kriewaldt said. “He has a philosophy of life he shares with the audience, and sort of the life I live. I won’t say what it is, but I’ll let Abe tell you.”

The play bubbles with the arrival of Jerry’s mother, Mildred (played by Ann Van Grinsven), whose house burned down. Abe and Mildred go at each other with a verbal hammer-and-tong.

“Abe and I hated each other since Alice and Jerry got married, and I went after him with a cake cutter — he still thinks it was a knife,” said Van Grinsven. “We squabble, that’s where the name comes from. We’re squabbling all the time. There’s a turn of events too, which makes it interesting.”

Alice is expecting a baby, and eventually something has to give with the live-in, bickering in-laws. Abe, looking to his heart, broadens everyone’s life. Also in the mix are the Sloans’ Puerto Rican handyman, Hector; Abe’s card-playing pal, Sol Wasserman; and a cranky governess.

Vollendorf, in his third time directing at the Mielke, said he wanted to direct the play in memory of former director Joanne Cowen.

“Joanne wanted to do this play for 10 years, a favorite of hers, but didn’t want to be the director so she passed the script on to me and I’ve been mulling it over for many years,” he said. “This production has a lot of great moments and it’s a privilege to direct this cast and see them bring to life characters I’ve been thinking about a long time.”

Besides Kriewaldt and Van Grinsven, other characters include Abe’s daughter Alice Sloan portrayed by Jodi Zillmer; her husband, Jerry, played by Brett Crandall; neighbor Sol Wasserman played by Bob Ravenscraft; the nanny/governess, Mrs. Fisher, played by Amy Steenbock; and Hector Lopez, the Puerto Rican handyman played by Vollendorf.

Ravenscraft, a newcomer to the Mielke, is in his first play ever. At age 68, he said he’s having the time of his life.

“I’ve been in skits and different things, but a play is different,” he said. “Everyone working here makes me feel so comfortable. It’s so much fun watching everyone, people will be laughing through the whole thing.”

Kriewaldt said he always enjoys being part of the productions, as he’s been involved for the past five years.

“The real nice thing about the cast is it’s sort of a reunion for me, and it’s fun working with these people again,” he said.

The play runs October 15-18 and 22-25. Thursday, Friday and Saturday curtain is at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday curtain is at 2 p.m. The house opens one hour prior to the performance. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under (checks or cash only). Tickets may be reserved by calling 715-526-2525.

The production is by the Box in the Wood Theatre Guild, sponsored by the Shawano County Arts Council and the Wisconsin Arts Board. The Mielke Arts Center is located on Airport Road in Shawano.

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