Family, Faith and the Future

Miracle on South Division Street

For generations the Nowak family has called their neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, home. Clara is the matriarch and her three grown children, Ruth, Beverly and Jimmy, are her pride and joy. The old neighborhood has gone through many changes. Businesses have closed, buildings have been shuttered or even torn down. Many of the old residents have moved away, relocating to the suburbs. But despite all of this, one landmark still remains the same. Located outside the Nowak’s home, just steps away from the old barbershop, stands a very large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Devout Catholic Clara Nowak, who runs a soup kitchen, is the proud custodian of the religious shrine. After all, it was to her grandfather that the miracle on South Division Street appeared. The family legend says that in 1942 the Mother of God materialized before Clara’s grandpa in his barbershop. The Virgin Mary told him that, in exchange for his devotion, she would pray for world peace. So a 20-foot shrine was erected on the very spot. There’s a mail slot in the base of the statue so that folks who truly believe can write messages or give money for the Blessed Mother’s blessing. The donations also help with the upkeep of the statue.

But on this snowy Christmas Eve, before going to midnight mass, the Polish-American family members are once again gathered together in their mama’s kitchen. Ruth has called a family meeting. While Jimmy works on repairing his mother’s toaster, Ruth prepares a charcuterie board to serve while she delivers her big news. The anticipation ramps up when Clara comes downstairs and her older daughter, Beverly, arrives. Bev is on her way to a holiday bowling tournament but is willing to stop by to hear Ruth’s news. Everyone is curious about what’s so important that the whole family has to be present. 

An aspiring actress, Ruth eventually tells her family that she’s decided to write the story of her grandfather and present it as a one-woman show that describes the miracle. In this way, the sacred event will go public and, no doubt, will finally get a long-awaited blessing from the Pope. But Ruth also reveals some additional information, a surprising bit of news that she learned from her grandmother on her deathbed. And the news will shock everyone in the family and totally change their lives.

Tom Dudzick’s play is a gentle, folksy family comedy. It’s a delightful, 90-minute one-act about a family dealing with changing times, new revelations and a some unexpected challenges to their Catholic faith. Dudzick is best-known for his semi-autobiographical trilogy of plays that begin with OVER THE TAVERN. MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET is his holiday play that had a successful run at St. Luke’s Theatre in New York.

Scott Shallenbarger returns to Citadel Theatre after last season’s I AND YOU and BABY, THE MUSICAL. His current production moves at a gentle pace, allowing each plot point to develop naturally, without forcing the issues. Scott has drawn sensational performances from each of his four cast members. And he has staged his production on a beautifully realistic stage setting. The Scenic Design is by multiple Jeff Award nominee, Bob Knuth. It’s filled with detail. Working together with Properties Designer, Ellen Markus, the the Nowak’s kitchen looks like it was transported from a real house. It’s stuffed with all manner of kitchen accoutrements and holiday decorations, especially a collection of hundreds of little snowmen. The setting absolutely fills the intimate Citadel stage.

Mr. Shallenbarger’s cast is excellent. Naomi Hershman is terrific as Clara, the family matriarch and head cook of the soup kitchen. As a devoted Catholic, Clara’s comforted by her faith and her strong belief in the family miracle. The actress is so natural in her portrayal of the mother of three adult children, especially in the way she breaks up their incessant arguments and quarrels. But Clara’s deep love for her family is absolutely palatable.

Mindy Shore shines as Ruth, the character who moves this plot. From the beginning theatergoers can sense that there’s something, some secret, that the young woman is keeping from her family. Ms. Shore is completely believable as her character waits for just the right moment to share several bits of news to her beloved mother and siblings. Lorelei Sturm makes her Citadel debut as Beverly. Her character’s on a time crunch because she’s got to get in some practice before the big Christmas Eve Bowling Tournament. She’s also hoping to meet up with Derek, the young man she’s hoping to date after meet ing him at a bar. And as Jimmy, Robert Wood Frank absolutely nails the younger brother. His character’s a kind soul, a guy who’s skilled with his hands and willing to help his mother with anything she needs. He’s also got a secret to share with the family this Christmas Eve.

This is a truly sweet, very positive play about family, faith and the future. The plot is paced perfectly and naturally. Each character in this story is presented honestly and has his or her own agenda to reveal. Every individual in this play is bursting with special news to share with and secrets to divulge to each other. But each of the characters is also about to undergo a big change in their lives, because of the news that one family member has to share. And it’s this change that makes this play so interesting and sweet.      

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented November 12-December 14 by Citadel Theatre Company, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 847-735-8554, x1, or by going to www.citadeltheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.