A young, naïve couple, a tired marriage and an irrational pairing: Open Stage of Harrisburg honestly portrays timeless themes of love in “Ah, Wilderness,” which opened Friday.

The play follows the Miller family in small-town Connecticut in 1906 as they gather for the Fourth of July holiday. The parents—an understanding father, Nat Miller (Brian Schreffler), and nit-picking mother, Essie Miller (Emily Gray)—are busy raising four children, including protagonist Richard Miller (Michael Hardenberg).

Richard, a high school senior, has fallen for his first love, the timid and plain Muriel McComber (Erin Shellenberger). After reading scandalous love poems and Oscar Wilde books, he believes he understands the world and all its emotions. The plot primarily follows the coming-of-age story of his forbidden love.

Hardenberg’s performance was an electrifying thread that brought the entire play together. He stepped up to the challenge to portray youthful naiveté and over-confidence, sometimes simultaneously. The well-paced and long-awaited scene with his sweetheart, whose father forbids their relationship, felt surprisingly honest and intimate.

The dysfunctional couple, the alcoholic Sid Davis (Dan Burke) and “old maid” schoolteacher Lilly Miller (Lisa Haywood), contrast the young, innocent lovers. The odd pairing never married, yet they each irrationally depend on the other for emotional support. The well-cast Burke, complete with protruding belly and of-the-era mustache, was a delight to watch, especially when spewing wise lines between drunken goofiness.

The strong performances of the head-of-household couple, Nat and Essie, grounded the play’s emotional storylines. At first, the gender roles—the hands-off father and the hysterical mother—struck me as antiquated, but fitting for the era. As the play progressed, and their son Richard developed, though, their relationship and characters became more nuanced, which I appreciated.

The laughs garnered by the child actors (Jonathon Hoover playing 11-year-old Tommy Miller and Sheridan Lain playing 15-year-old Mildred Miller) are a testament to the quality of the Open Stage Studio/School started by founder Anne Alsedek. As the final play for OSH founders, Don and Anne Alsedek, “Ah, Wilderness” presents a fitting cap to their decades-long careers in local theater.

Another familiar connection brought their OSH legacy full circle. Don’s sister and OSH’s former resident costume designer, Gwen Alsedek, returned as costume designer for this performance.

The in-period dresses, suits and hairstyles included the smallest details that took the audience into the charming era. The turn-of-the-century time period offered a simplicity not found in today’s era of instant communication and constant contact. The young lovers squabble over a letter. The mother stays up until midnight worrying, not texting and calling, while she waits for her son to return. The characters are actually excited for the holiday’s fireworks.

As the play concluded and Richard learned from testing the waters, I thought to myself that this story of love and family tied a nice bow on the Alsedek’s time leading OSH.

Author: Danielle Roth