'Cheaper by the Dozen' is a sentimental slice of Americana

Mr. Gilbreth (T.J. Bishop) seems like a domineering managerial wonk who insists on running his family the way he does his business. He blows a whistle to gather his legion of children for inspection, he pays lip service to running family meetings democratically but declares everyone else's ideas out of order, and he refuses to let his girls wear silk stockings or makeup because he considers boys a distraction.

He hounds his oldest daughter, Anne (Lauren Parrent), to excel in school at the expense of everything else, including a social life.

If "Cheaper by the Dozen" were set in 2002 instead of the 1920s, he might be charged with child abuse. But slowly it becomes clear that Mr. Gilbreth's motivations may not be what they seem.

The Central High School production opens tonight at the Central Junior High School Auditorium.

The play, based on the book about a real family with 12 children, illustrates a time when fathers perhaps did run households autocratically. Mrs. Gilbreth (Stacy Dohogne) seems to have little ability to change her husband's single-mindedness. But at the beginning of each act, two of the Gilbreths' children, Ernestine (Carly Pind) and Frank (Brent Humphries), reminisce not unfondly about life with father.

Bishop manages to be both exasperating and endearing as Mr. Gilbreth. He is a pleasure to watch in the lead.

As the brainy Anne, Parrent is convincing as she seeks to understand the reasons behind her father's agenda for her.

Pind, who has appeared in a number of River City Players community theater productions, skillfully turns herself into the nerdy Ernestine.

The rest of the cast pulls off the difficult job of making such a large ensemble work.

The other children are played by Mason Loy, Clay Schermann, Catherine Moreton, Blake Russell, Tyler Roeger and Kasper Woldvedt.

Olivia Swingle plays the priggish Miss Brill, and Phil Brooks is Anne's swain, Larry.

Keith Fischer plays Anne's would-be boyfriend, Joe Scales, Theresa Yoffie plays Mrs. Fitzgerald the housekeeper, and Edgar Palacios is Dr. Burton. The family's collie is portrayed by a beautiful dog named Sunshine.

Directed by Cynthia Bradshaw, the play is being presented today and Friday instead of on the usual schedule of Friday and Saturday in case the football team advanced further in the state playoffs. Four cast members are football players and one is in the marching band.

Joe Bradshaw is the technical director. The student director is Emily Church. The stage manager is Elizabeth Ervin.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

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