‘Over the River’ a family comedy perfect for holiday time of year

The upcoming Thanksgiving-to-New Year's holiday period is, like it or not, a time when long-separated families tend to reconnect.

And that's why, while it's not explicitly a holiday play, "Over the River and Through the Woods," which will be presented this weekend by Theatre in the Valley, is a perfect offering for this time of year.

The comedy, by Joe DiPietro, examines what happens when a single Italian-American guy from New Jersey weighs a job offer that would have him relocate to Seattle.

That, says Rick Bindhamer, director of Theatre in the Valley's production, causes consternation among his immigrant grandparents, who "do various things to try to get him to stay."

Bindhamer suspects the comedy's themes will strike a chord with anybody who ever has had to make a choice between staying amid the familiar comforts of home and family and striking out alone to somewhere, and something, new.

And, Bindhamer says, "most of the characters would be recognizable to most anybody."

Bindhamer says one of the most appealing things about doing the play is that it examines aspects of family relationships that are "not often discussed but that people have to deal with."

For example: What are the pros and cons of putting family above all else? Answering that question, Bindhamer notes, creates "quite a bit of conflict between what he wants and what they want."

"In the case of the grandparents, it was the family that was the important thing, the big thing," he says, To them, the lure of a new city and a new job pales compared to the bird-in-the-hand imperatives of close-by family.

Don't misunderstand, though. "It is a comedy," Bindhamer says. "There are bittersweet moments, but it is a comedy."

Beyond the challenges of the piece itself, directing the play also has presented Bindhamer with a few logistical challenges: Because Theatre in the Valley has no permanent home, "Over the River and Through the Woods" will be performed in three separate locales during its run.

Today and Saturday, the play will be presented at the Henderson Convention Center. On Nov. 20, it will be performed at Sun City MacDonald Ranch. And, Nov. 22 will see a performance at Sun City Anthem, although Bindhamer says that performance is reserved for Anthem residents and their guests.

Beyond the demands of the piece itself, having to change it up geographically for each performance is particularly tough on the actors, who don't get to work on the set until the day of the show, Bindhamer says.

"Hopefully, someday we'll be able to get our own house," he says.

"But it's hard to do all of our shows as touring shows."

On the upside, he adds, "Findlay Cadillac has been great, giving us rehearsal space for all of our shows this year."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.