John O'Hara Fans
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RichtervilleEvent
O’Hara’s work brought to life in Pine Grove performances
BY STEPHEN J. PYTAK
STAFF WRITER
Click here to go to the Pottsville Republican & Evening Herald's websitePINE GROVE — John O’Hara’s early 20th Century vision of Pottsville — which he called Gibbsville in his fiction — came to life on stage at the Sweet Arrow Lake Park Clubhouse on Friday night.
Performing “Gibbsville: Summers in Richterville,” which consisted of four skits based on O’Hara stories, the Actors Guild of Schuylkill County entertained sell-out crowds Thursday and Friday nights, said Fiorillo’s wife, Cathy, the show’s director.
“We sold out both nights. We had a total of 150 people,” Cathy Fiorillo said.
Among the people there Friday were sisters Ashley and Jenna Fehr, Pine Grove.
After watching “The Victim,” which starred Mike Fiorillo, Jim Blackwell and Amy Mills, all of Pottsville, Ashley said, “I think it really embodied the characteristics of John O’Hara’s stories.”
Jenna, who will be a senior at Penn State University, Main Campus, this year, said she’s a part of the Penn State Thespians. When asked how the local actors guild performed, she said: “I thought it was very good. It was cool to see something like that around here.”
Ken and Jacquelyn Lehman of Pine Grove saw the actors guild perform these same skits in 2006 at The Pottsville Club.
“We love John O’Hara. I think they do a wonderful job presenting his stories,” Ken Lehman said.
The event was a fundraiser for the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association, said Erica Ramus, who co-chairs John O’Hara Fans, a fan club, along with Schuylkill County Commissioner Mantura Gallagher.
Tickets were $35 each and Wood Catering, Pottsville, served roast beef, haddock and chicken dinners, Cathy Fiorillo said.
It was the first time the actors guild had performed any O’Hara skits outside Pottsville, and they tweaked the script a bit to make it relate to Pine Grove. “We threw in some Pine Grove jokes,” Ramus said.
For example, during “The Victim,” Mike Fiorillo, who plays a detective, mentions the Red Lion Cafe at 697 Deturksville Road.
Other skits performed were “The Hardwareman,” “The Afternoon Waltz” and “The House on the Corner,” according to the event’s program.
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