Family, Faith, and Food 

Reviewed by Vicki Stokes

How do you mail lasagna? That’s the goofy question I was left with after seeing Over the River and Through the Woods, now on the South Huron Stage at Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend. This family comedy is the final show of the HCP 2026 season and was previously staged at Kings Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene and in St. Jacobs in 2025. Drayton Entertainment CEO, Alex Mustakas, is the director.

Italian music greets your ears as you enter the theatre. The stage is set in the dining and living area of a 1990s New Jersey grandparents’ home with an antiquated floral couch and matching chairs, a large dining table and chairs with a tablecloth in Italian flag colours, images of Jesus and the Pope on the walls, and different wallpaper in each area. The wardrobe accurately reflects the 1990s, just as the furniture lags in style. The floor is a realistic-looking hardwood. On the far wall is a working window.

The big surprise is that the front door area rotates around to the porch side, allowing the audience to eavesdrop on private porch conversations. The lighting is impeccable, switching the focus from indoor to outdoor conversations and allowing actors to communicate directly to the audience as needed.

Here we follow the story of Nick Cristano, the only family member left in New Jersey to keep an eye on two sets of grandparents. His parents are in Florida, and his sister has moved away, so it is up to Nick to visit the grandparents every Sunday for dinner and make sure they can still get along okay. Family, faith, and food are the three Fs that are important in Italian family tradition, as Nick is constantly reminded.

At 29 years old,  Nick loves his job and is ready to accept a promotion, but knows it will disappoint his grandparents because it involves a move to Seattle. To Nick, his grandparents’ love is smothering, and he is ready to go. When he finally announces his plans, they try to make him feel guilty and even invite a lovely young woman, Caitlin, for dinner in the hopes of trapping him into staying.

We all know that one relative who forces food on you out of love, likes to tell a tall tale, doesn’t like to accept a gift, or refuses to learn the latest technology. We might be one of them, in fact! And then there’s Nick, who doesn’t appreciate the family he has until it’s too late. The characters are very real, and so is the humorous dialogue. During the scene where the family plays Trivial Pursuit, I marvelled at how the playwright perfectly captures the elaborate thinking process we often go through to remember a famous person’s name.

Michael Vanhevel, who is naturally charming as a brilliant crooner, brings out the best in the frustrated Nick Cristano. Even when Caitlin calls Nick an asshole, as much as he deserves it, Nick is still quite a likable guy. Rob McClure and Elva Mai Hoover, both of Drayton’s production of Doris and Ivy in the Home, play Frank and Aida Gianelli; Costin Manu and Mary Long play Nunzio and Emma Cristano. Emily Lukasik plays Caitlin, the dinner date. This seasoned cast delivers the lines with perfect timing, and the accents are quite believable.

Along with the ample comedy are scenes that will tug on the heartstrings. You will be reminded of loved ones in your own lives, or you may see yourself in some of the characters. With an emotional yet satisfying ending, it will leave you free to ponder the silly question: How do you mail lasagna?

Over the River and Through the Woods continues until August 30th at Huron Country Playhouse, South Huron Stage. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 519-238-6000, or Toll-Free at 1-855-372-9866, or by checking www.huroncountryplayhouse.com for availability.

Photo: Costin Manu, Mary Long, Michael Vanhevel, Elva Mai Hoover, and Rob McClure. Photo by Drayton Entertainment.

Over the River and Through the Woods
Written by Joe DiPietro
Directed by Alex Mustakas
Performed by Elva Mai Hoover, Mary Long, Emily Lukasik, Costin Manu, Rob McClure, Michael Vanhevel
Produced by Drayton Entertainment
South Huron Stage, Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend
August 13 to August 30, 2026
Reviewed by Vicki Stokes