Modern Family

“There’s a reason why this family wants to be together, and there’s a reason why people come to visit and want to stay.” Our director has some lovely ideas about what “belonging” is, and how important this family is to one another.

Those of us who are visitors to the Vanderhof homestead have been asked to think about what we like about the house and what draws us to return. The milk man stayed five years, the ice man (Mr. DePinna) has been there for eight years and counting. Lucky me - my character shows up once and the play is over before she leaves.

I've been thinking a lot about the closeness of some families. There's mine...close, but really more at a distance. There's the boyfriend's...who are so close that they gather at least monthly for a big family dinner AND spend a full long week together in a summer beach house and seem to get along beautifully. Now that I've experienced it with them, it's not just for show - they actually like each other! I've been catching up on the TV phenomenon "Modern Family" as well. Each show's wrap-up points out why they all love each other even though there are arguments, disagreements, misunderstandings, quirks and teasing. (A great, clever show, by the way.)

So that brings us back to the Vanderhof/Sycamore house. Alice knows her family are unusual - to say the least - and goes to extraordinary measures to create the illusion of a "normal" home when her boyfriend's parents come to visit. Yet when those plans are ruined - she makes the incredibly difficult decision to leave and be on her own for a while. Leaving is the last thing she wants to do, but feels a need to have some time by herself. They're her family, odd or not, and they love each other, they love her, and they accept all comers. No apologies, no excuses.

Would I live there? Heavens, no! They be crazy. Would the Grand Dutchess? Probably not. She is brought there by her friend Boris Kolenkhov, with the promise of a free meal. "She has not had a good meal since before the Revolution." Clearly the Grand Dutchess hasn't missed many meals...but they're probably leftovers grabbed from the restaurant taken home to eat later. She and Boris can maneuver their way into the homes of generous friends and share good food and good company. Better than a bread line, wouldn't you say?

Before my entrance at rehearsal yesterday, Andrew (Kolenkhov) came offstage to get me, and said quietly in his non-Russian voice: "They fell for it...now, remember you're supposed to be Russian royalty!" Wouldn't that be awful - but an entirely different plot - if they were shysters and just in it for the food?