"Painting Churches"

July 19, 2012 — Elderly Gardner and Fannie Church are packing to move from their expensive Beacon Hill apartment in Boston to accommodations more in line with their reduced income. Or at least, Fannie is busy packing. Gardner, an award-winning, nationally-renowned poet and writer, refuses to leave his study where he's pecking away at his typewriter, convinced he's still producing great poetry. He finally comes out, awkward and confused, shuffling and dropping a stack of papers. The dialog between Gardner and Fannie in this first act is some of the funniest of the show.

While packing, the Churches are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their daughter, Mags, an accomplished artist who is gaining national recognition. When she arrives, she announces she wants to paint her parents' portrait. At first, Mags is amused by her parents' kibbitzing and refusal to take her seriously, along with Dad's constant state of confusion, but this eventually leads to harsh words and hurtful accusations between mother and daughter.

"Painting Churches" by Tina Howe, staged by the Barnstormers in Tamworth, New Hampshire, is a slight but funny and poignant play, and a real audience-pleaser. The beautifully designed set, recreating a Beacon Hill apartment, featured luxurious furnishings and three tall windows. Waltrudis Buck is perfect as the funny, flighty, sometimes sarcastic Fannie. Tall, distinguished Sean McGuirk, in the sort of risky role playwright Howe is noted for, plays Gardner's slide into dementia with humor and sensitivity. Dee Nelson almost steals the show as the daughter. I've seen her a number of times at the Barnstormers and Peterborough Players. She has had guest roles on Grey's Anatomy and Judging Amy, as well as several movies. She has won the Elliot Norton award and New Hampshire Theatre award. She's one of my favorite New Hampshire theatre performers.

In spite of the conflict in the middle of the play, its overall effect is uplifting. You leave with good feelings about what you've just witnessed.