Desiderio’s “The Melville Boys” brims with heart and laughter. Plus parmesan.

By MELINDA MILLER
JUNE 2, 2024

After a gusher of theater openings to close out the spring, June promises to be slightly less hectic on local stages. Except … we do have three shows opening in the coming weekend, followed by the excitement of the 2024 Artie Awards (sold out again this year!) on June 10. Two days after that, on June 12, Shakespeare in Delaware Park’s roving show “A Midsummer Night’s Tour” starts its summer journey in East Aurora, and on June 20 the main SDP event debuts when Shakespeare Hill welcomes “A Winter’s Tale.”

In the meantime, a more summer-y tale continues inside, at Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre in Cheektowaga, with a heart-touching story by legendary Canadian playwright Norm Foster. “The Melville Boys” is a family tale full of comic highlights and dramatic showdowns, all playing out in a cozy fishing cabin.

The Melville brothers, Owen and Lee, are borrowing their aunt and uncle’s cabin for a weekend getaway. But the fact is for these two, there is no getting away from the reality that fate has dealt them — though heaven knows Owen is giving it his best shot.

Owen (a boisterous Trevor Dugan) is first through the door, living his dream as a Western hero, or desperado, or whatever, while his older, pragmatic brother Lee (a very grounded Marc Ruffino) unloads the car and brings in the groceries.

At least, he thinks he’s bringing in the groceries. Owen was responsible for getting the weekend’s food; when Lee empties the bags he finds only chips, donuts and beer – another sign that Owen isn’t “responsible” at all. The brothers’ relationship quickly reveals itself to be loving but lopsided. Lee likes order; Owen is chaos personified. Lee wants to talk about his medical issues; Owen checks out of the discussion by grabbing a fishing pole and (another) beer.

Before Lee can jumpstart the conversation, it’s completely derailed by the arrival of sisters Mary and Loretta, two local women who have stopped in to see the absent aunt and uncle. Like the brothers, Mary and Loretta (Marie Costa and Alyssa Grace Adams) are works-in-progress, as Mary deals with her dashed dreams while Loretta lets hers fly free. She and Owen are drawn to each other like two trucks on a slippery road.

What follows is a combination of desire and avoidance, truth-telling, wishful thinking, too much drinking and, ultimately, a chance for four people to come away with a better understanding of each other and of themselves.

With well over 50 plays to his credit, Norm Foster is ridiculously prolific. “The Melville Boys” was his earliest success, giving audiences a taste of what would become his trademarks: relatable characters; down-to-earth dialogue paired with equally earthy physical impulses; and a sure comic sensibility attuned to an affectionate sensitivity for human nature, which he prefers to find the best of.

Jack Hunter, who played Owen in a production of “The Melville Boys” at Alleyway Theatre 35(!) years ago, directs this fine cast, seemingly imparting to them everything that drew him to this entertaining story the first time around.

Add to that the delicious choice of entrees for the “dinner” part of the dinner theater (we had the eggplant parm and mushroom ravioli; fish, pasta, veal and beef also were on offer), and it makes for a fulfilling and filling evening.

“The Melville Boys” is continuing at Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, 204 Como Park Boulevard, Cheektowaga, through June 23. Evening shows are June 6, 8, 13, 15, 20 and 22, with dinner at 6 p.m., show at 7:30; matinees are June 9, 15, 16 and 23, with meal at 1 p.m. and show at 2. Tickets are $62 to $72, depending on entrée. For reservations call 716-395-3207 after 11 a.m. Show running time is about two hours with one intermission. Parking is free and on site