Morning’s at Seven

Reviewed by Julia Stier
The Group Rep
Through July 16

 A line from the Robert Browning poem “The Year’s at the Spring,” declares “Morning’s at seven,” as one of many indicators that “All’s right with the world!” But that’s where the similarities between play and poem end. In Paul Osborne’s play – Morning’s at Seven – all is not right with the world, at least for the Gibbs sisters.

Morning’s at Seven premiered on Broadway in 1939, and went on to receive two Broadway revivals – once in 1980 (the production won three Tony’s, including Best Reproduction), and a second time in 2002. Now, the story of the Gibbs sisters has found its way to the Group Rep, directed by Doug Engalla.

An affair, a son who refuses to fly the coop, mental breakdowns, and a controlling husband are just some of the problems that plague four aging sisters in a small Midwestern town in 1928.

There’s Cora (Milda Dacys), who is ready to grab her husband, Thor (Neil Thompson), and move out of the home they’ve shared with her sister Arry (Dawn Halloran) for far too long. Next door lives Cora, whose son, Homer (Jeff Dinnell), won’t commit and actually marry his fiancé, Myrtle (Bridget Murray), and whose husband, Carl (Lloyd Pedersen), keeps succumbing to these debilitating fits. Finally, a couple blocks away, there’s Esty (Belinda Howell), whose husband, David (Stan Mazin), forbids her from visiting her family because (according to him) they’re all idiots.

Thompson and Dacys as Thor and Cora are a particular delight. Calm, cool, and collected, they balance out their more excitable relatives, all while masking their own secrets. Brownell as Ida charms as a fawning, yet frenetic mother, and Murray as Myrtle brings just enough spunk to show that times are changing.

While this play offers a plethora of meaty roles for veterans of the theatre, the story of the show allows for wider audience appeal due to fact that it explores issues faced by two different generations. I found myself drawn into Myrtle’s story, that of a woman meeting her partner’s family for the first time, and all of the fear, excitement, and expectation that comes along with that. I suspect that dilemmas faced by other characters – Arry never having found someone to be with, Carl feeling like he missed his shot at the career he actually wanted – resonated with other members of the audience.

It’s a quiet drama, but one that inspires action – make the move, marry the girl, don’t let life pass you by.

Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., N. Hollywood. Opens Fri., June 9; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; Dark June 16-18; thru July 16. Running time: Two hours and 15 minutes, with intermission   https://thegrouprep.com/show/mornings-at-seven/