Theater Review: 'The Dinner Party' by Southington Community Theatre

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

Southington Community Theatre is performing Neil Simon’s “The Dinner Party” this weekend only on the stage at DePaolo Middle School. The cast of six is directed by RM McCarty.

“The Dinner Party” is a one-act comedy about marriage and divorce that this production splits into two acts.

In what was the 31st play that Simon wrote, a half-dozen guests have agreed to attend a dinner party at a private dining room in a first-rate Paris restaurant. They arrive at the room in a staggered manner, and eventually realize that they are three divorced couples, thereby providing the perfect recipe for a farce, as the playwright had intended the play to begin. The divorce lawyer that most of them thought was hosting the party never shows up and eventually the couples begin to analyze their marriages.

The director notes in the printed program that “The Dinner Party” is Simon’s most autobiographical play in that the playwright was married five times. The play “has its share of witticisms as only Neil Simon can create…The text is funny and touching and cathartic.”

This play is the 17th SCT production for which McCarty has been either a director, musician, or performer. The current president of the theater’s board, he notes that directing character studies such as this is where his heart lies.

The play premiered in 1999 in Los Angeles and the following year on Broadway. In the Broadway cast were Len Cariou as Andre Bouville, Veanne Cox as Yvonne Fouchet, Penny Fuller as Gabrielle Buonocelli, Jan Maxwell as Mariette Levieux, John Ritter as Claude and Henry Winkler as Albert.

McCarty assures us that his actors are incredible at what they do, as they are nothing like their characters in “real life.” All of them do a wonderful job of bringing their roles to life.

Stuart Savelkoul, who appeared in last year’s production of “Rumors,” is the first actor to enter the stage, as the character of Claude, a book dealer.

Danny Chavarriaga plays the role of Albert. This multifaceted artist is originally from Medellin, Columbia and was raised in Miami. He recently moved to Southington from Los Angeles.

Joe Auletta is the last man to arrive at the party, Andre. The actor performs in his fifth show with this group, where he recently joined the board. Past credits include Ernie in “Rumors” and Sonny in “Farce of Nature.” He shares the stage with his daughter Faith in this production.

Carolyn Totino plays the lovely Mariette, a novelist, in a stunning jade gown. The actress has been part of this group since 2013 and played the role of Cassie in last year’s “Rumors.”

Faith Auletta is the fifth character, Yvonne. After a five year hiatus from the stage, Ms. Auletta returns to share the stage with her father.

Amanda Savio appears last in the role of Gabrielle. Savia has been involved in an impressive 52 shows with Southington Community Theatre in a variety of ways and had many supporters in the opening night audience.

Erik Rosati works as the show’s producer and Sue Mangiagli of Southington, who has worked behind the scenes at the Arts at Angeloria’s, serves as the stage manager. Leigh Pechillo was in charge of props and Kevin Harwood is the technical director. The lovely set brings the feel of Paris to the DePaolo stage, with the walls a lovely shade of blue and hung with large paintings.

The 2025 season will continue with the popular “Broadway at the Brewery” at Witchdoctor Brewing Company on June 3, followed by the fall musical, “The Prom,” directed by Eddie and Jocelyn Perlini. For auditions, SouthingtonCommunityTheatre@gmail.com.

Remaining performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and run approximately two hours with one intermission. Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School is located at 385 Pleasant St. in Southington and offers plenty of parking. Tickets at sct.ludus.com/index.php.