The Boys Next Door

by Tom Griffin

Feb. 10-14, 2005

Directed by B. Michael Quale

An Off-Broadway success, this very funny yet very touching play focuses on the lives of four mentally handicapped men who live in a communal residence in a New England city where they live under the supervision of an earnest, but increasingly "burned out" young social worker named Jack. Norman, who works in a doughnut shop and is unable to resist the lure of the sweet pastries, takes great pride in the huge bundle of keys that dangles from his waist; Lucien P. Smith has the mind of a five-year-old but imagines that he is able to read and comprehend the weighty books he lugs about; Arnold, the ringleader of the group, is a hyperactive, compulsive chatterer, who suffers from deep-seated insecurities and a persecution complex; while Barry, a brilliant schizophrenic who is devastated by the unfeeling rejection of his brutal father, fantasizes that he is a golf pro. Mingled with scenes from the daily lives of these four, where "little things" sometimes become momentous (and often very funny), are moments of great poignancy when, with touching effectiveness, we are reminded that the handicapped, like the rest of us, want only to love and laugh and find some meaning and purpose in the brief time that they, like their more fortunate brothers, are allotted on this earth.

CAST

Jack……………..Dave Richter

Arnold P. Wiggins……………..Mike Daniels

Lucien P. Smith……………..Eric Pozgay

Norman Bulansky……………..Jim Ryen

Barry Klemper……………..Matt Rolfson

Sheila……………..Liz Seven

Mr. Klemper……………..Russell Larson

Mr. Hedges……………..Brad Dokken

Senator Clarke……………..Brad Dokken

Mrs. Fremus……………..Allison Irgens

Clara……………..Allison Irgens

Mrs. Warren……………..Allison Irgens

CREW

Director……………..B. Michael Quale

Assistant to the Director……………..LeeAnn Clark

Scenic Design……………..B. Michael Quale

Stage Manager……………..LeeAnn Clark

Stage Crew:

Kim Bryson, Kevin Duttenhefner

Set Construction:

Brad Dokken, Randy Gilbertson, Morgan Gravos, Russell Larson, B. Michael Quale, Dave Richter, Liz Seven

Light Board Technician……………..B. Michael Quale

Sound Technicians:

Kristi Marshall, Susan Sinclair

Props Masters:

Brad Dokken, Mike Daniels, Jim Ryen

House Volunteer……………..Dennis Gendreau

Concessions……………..Mary Jo Harstad

Program……………..Brad Dokken