GRUMPY OLD MEN: The Musical by Carol Kaufman Segal
Grumpy Old Men: The Musical is an
all-out fun musical playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing
Arts. Making its West Coast Premiere,
the musical is a redo of the 1993 romantic comedy, the screenplay written by
Mark Steven Johnson with musical score by Alan Silvesltri. It featured Walter Mathau, Jack Lemon, and
Ann-Margret. The theatre production is by Dan Remmes, with music by Neil Berg, lyrics
by Nick Meglin.
The play
takes place in small town Wabasha, Minnesota where most folks know just about
everyone who lives there. Two elderly
neighbors, John Gustafson (Mark Jacoby) and Max Goldman (Gregory North), have
known each other since, well, like forever, and they have been feuding over 50
years. Naturally, their rivalry has been
caused by the opposite sex. Ariel
(Leslie Stevens), a very beautiful and charming woman moves to Wabasha, and the
rivalry between the two men seeking her favors, roils their ire further.
We meet a
number of town-folks who have called Wabasha their only home. There is John’s grown-up daughter, Melanie (Ashley
Moniz) and his 94-year old father, Grandpa Gustafson (Hal Linden). Living with Max is his son Jacob (Craig
McEldowney) who has been in love with Melanie all the while they were growing
up, but never had the nerve to tell her.
Chuck Barrels (Ken Page) owns the town’s bait and apothecary shop, and
when his relative, Punky Barrels (Cathy Rigby) is in need, he takes her in to
his home. An outsider shows up quite
often in Wabasha, Sandra Snyder (April Nixon) from the IRS, and proves to be a
thorn in John Gustafson’s life. (Will he
really lose his home because he is in debt to the IRS?)
There
are many other town-folks that we meet throughout this delightful musical. They
include Harry the Postman (Peter Allen Vogt), Stan (Joe Abraham), Fran (Heather
Jane Rolff), Karla (Fatima El-Bashiri), Bo (John Battagliese), Lo (Neil Starkenberg),
Tim (Allen Everman), and Unis (Karla J. Franko). They keep the production moving with their
singing, dancing, and just being members of the community. The fine orchestra plays under the direction
of Benet Braun, choreogrphay is by Michele Lynch, scenic design by Michael Carnahan,
costume design by Dustin Cross, all under the direction of Matt Lenz. 
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