Revisiting “The Boys Next Door”

By Phaidra Yunker
Staff Writer

A decade ago, Tin Roof Theatre Company brought together a cast of actors to perform “The Boys Next Door,” by Tom Griffin. Many of those actors were so profoundly affected by their roles that, with great excitement, Tin Roof has chosen to allow these talented men to once again grace the stage in the guise of the characters that they very obviously love.

“The Boys Next Door” is a dramatic comedy that takes a risk: it is about mentally handicapped adults. The script itself takes both a serious and humorous look at the lifestyles of these particular men, and Tin Roof Theatre Company pulls it off without seeming to make fun of its subjects.

The setting is a group home supervised by Jack (Bill Dablow, original Tin Roof production cast member), a tired, slightly cynical man who loves the men he cares for but is feeling burnt out by his responsibility to them.

First there is Arnold Wiggins (Scott Awalt), whom Jack tells us is “marginal” as far as his mental handicap, but who is definitely suffering from a severe form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman in “Rain Man,” Awalt constructs a lovable character who often speaks of the disparity between his loving home life and his confidence-crushing forays into “normal” society via his position as a movie theatre janitor.

Norman Bulansky (Jim Donat, original Tin Roof production cast member) is high-functioning; he works at a bakery and has a heart-warming crush on Sheila (Kristine Thompson), who is also mentally challenged. Ambling about the set muttering about doughnuts, keys, and continually botching efforts at social expectations, Donat’s portrayal of Norman is particularly humorous.

Lucien P. Smith (Charles H. Hinton, original Tin Roof production cast member) is somewhat less able to function in society, a fact that comes into play when the government discontinues his Social Security payments. This creates a huge stress in Lucien’s life: he is required to attend a State Senate meeting and speak in his own defense. Working for weeks to simply learn his ABC’s, Lucien is desperate to do well at the formal hearing. The hearing itself is one of the most memorable moments in the play, Hinton’s gut-wrenching performance brings collective tears to the audience’s eyes.

And then there’s Barry Klemper (Mark Seeba, original Tin Roof production cast member), a schizophrenic who believes he is a golf-pro. Barry is so convinced of his golfing abilities that he advertises as golf instructor (only $1.13 per hour) with disastrous results. The re-introduction of Barry’s father Mr. Klemper (Michael Lochow) into his life sends Barry into a crisis state that is difficult to watch.

It is important for Fargo-Moorhead audiences to realize that Griffin did not intend for the humor to be at the expense of the characters, but it does stem naturally from the fact that they are mentally handicapped. These characters happen to be mentally challenged, and the play honestly examines their particular idiosyncrasies in a manner that is funny and at times hilarious.

The play is comprised of a series of vignettes with minor plot threads connecting them. This format allows the audience a glimpse into each of the main characters’ lives. We feel their joy, their grief, their success, and their confusion. This is a lovely production, the acting is extremely well done, with each of the actors carefully, and usually successfully, balanced between portraying real people and becoming stereotypes. Make time to see it this weekend.

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If You Go

What:The Boys Next Door
Where: F-M Community Theatre
When: Mar 18-20, 7:30 pm; March 21, 2 pm
How Much: $10-15, 701.235.6778