Both the name of a thought-provoking, seminal work of art and a clever night-out suggestion, "Dinner with Friends," produced by Pioneer Productions Company, covers all your bases. The title of Donald Margulies’ show doubles as a directive and in this case, signifies a collaboration with Morristown restaurants who are offering discounts to Pioneer audiences.
You can go out to eat, have dinner with your friends, and then attend a show. All of which can also be achieved in reverse, at your discretion of course. The only real directive is to enjoy yourself! Beyond that, all you’ll need to do is save your receipt from your "Dinner with Friends" ticket purchase and bring it to one of the five participating restaurants to receive 10% off your meal if you visit during the show’s run, from November 15-24, 2024.
Forgive me for leading with the financials but food is fabulous and discounts on a meal that you don’t have to prepare are one of the greatest joys in life. I digress, let’s move onto the non-culinary aspect of this production. What is this show about?
As its synopsis reads, "'Dinner With Friends' is a rueful comedy about friendship in the age of divorce. It tells the story of two forty-something couples whose relationships are fractured when one announces their divorce." Written by Donald Margulies, the play won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Drama so right off the bat, you know the material is strong. However, it’s the word "drama" that I clung to. Ever since the world shut down in 2020, I’ve had a difficult time watching material that I consider heavy. I’ve begun to wonder when I hear drama if it’s the kind of drama that I will be able to handle, if it’s too sad, my fragile emotional state can’t handle it.
In speaking with Douglas McLaughlin, the show’s director, and Miriam Salerno, one of its stars, my mind was put to ease. Yes it is a drama but there is levity, so much so that the show is often considered a dramedy. So if you’re like me and struggle to experience heaviness in your art as of late, know that this show is not all broken hearts and doom and gloom. Salerno assures me that these characters grow into who they are meant to be and that should be respected for the beautiful progress that it is. While perhaps not the happy ending one might expect, it is a happy ending. The best way to understand is to see it play out on stage.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you’re not like me and you seek out drama, this show will suit you well. Focusing on the complexities of not only romance, but friendship, the show dives into the importance of interpersonal relationships. As McLaughlin puts it, "This particular play is about connection and what that means. I think everybody craves that, especially now, post-Covid. Nothing will compare to being in a space, seeing live actors, with other people and finding that connection. Because when you’re with other people and you’re feeling that energy, it is unmistakable. And I know we all need it."
While the show focuses on the dynamics of a group in middle age, it is relatable to audiences of all ages. Well, let’s be honest, your three-year-old won’t enjoy this one but your twelve-year-old will! Miriam Salerno plays “Beth” in this show, one-half of the soon-to-be-divorced couple, and the actress had an enlightening conversation with her teenage daughter recently. "She [her daughter] was relaying to me a story about [a] conflict in her friend group and it mirrored the conflict in ‘Dinner with Friends’ and just how different people respond differently to ethical questions in life. I just looked at her and said ‘I can’t wait for you to see this play. You’re going to relate to this." Both McLaughlin and Salerno shared a laugh and concluded that the friendship aspect of this show is not only universal, but the heart of the play’s message.
Dinner with Friends cast sitting at a table.
That laughter between old friends is contagious and representative of the play they are crafting. Not only are the characters on stage old friends, but so are the actors portraying them and the director guiding them. The beauty of this community theater is that the team behind each show is a tight-knit group. Their work and relationships extend beyond the stage. Miriam is not only an actor but a board member in charge of Engagement and Partnerships. Douglas is the Pioneer Board’s Creative Consultant and Jon Beeler who plays "Tom," the soon-to-be ex-husband of Salerno’s "Beth," is also a member of the Pioneer board.
It may not be common knowledge that most actors must work to build relationships with their co-stars, fellow actors that they may have only met at an audition, knowing little more about them than their names. In order to convince audiences of a lifelong bond, they must first fabricate a past that feels real, but every so often, magic hits the stage when real-life friends come together to perform and bring with them an authentic backstory. Lucky for Pioneer audiences, that is just what happened with the casting of "Dinner with Friends." It turns out that Beeler and Seth Kaplan, who plays Gabe, have known each other since childhood. The two used to play travel soccer together when they were young!
Better still, Cara Talty who plays Karen, one half of the still-married couple, and Miriam have known each other for nearly 15 years and as Miriam says, "simply adore each other." That easy repartee translates naturally to the characters who have also known each other for a lifetime.
The lucky director delights in his fortune, "That shared history really lends itself to what they bring to the show. From the very beginning, I knew that whoever we were going to cast would need to build this long standing friendship and the fact that it’s built-in on both sides already is an enormous gift. It has made for some very enjoyable rehearsals and conversations with them. It’s a dream and I am very grateful for all four of them."
You can see this loving cast of characters bring authenticity to the stage November 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 & 24th at The Stage at Fellowship Hall (Morristown United Methodist Church) 50 South Park Place, Morristown, NJ.
For tickets, more information about the initiative with local restaurants and to learn which restaurants are participating, please visit the Pioneer Productions website.
