A casualty of the pandemic and postponed to a later date, Danny Eaton’s newest play, “Betty & the Patch,” will debut at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield on Thursday.
Eaton, the Majestic’s founding producer, wrote the play several years ago noting its title is an “homage” to one of his favorite restaurants, Betty’s in the Patch in Agawam, which has long been gone from the restaurant scene.
“We did a reading on stage and invited an audience of 100 people and it was really well received,” he said about bringing the play to life.
In the play, which Eaton noted is not biographical, the restaurant has been run by Betty Borelli for years, but a recent kitchen fire has forced a shut down. Determined to reopen, Betty has recruited her daughter Cristina, a successful attorney, to come home and help. But that’s not the only reason — she has had recent health issues and Betty wants Cristina and chef Bobo Henderson to ensure the restaurant’s future. There are family secrets as well that need to be finally revealed, and recent visits from past friends have added to the urgency.
“This is a really beautifully-written piece, a Danny play for use, a no-frills story about characters who love one another very much and I think audiences are really going to love it. The play is such a sweet, sweet story, very nostalgic with some really touching moments,” said Sue Dziura, associate producing director/stage manager for the Majestic.
“The set is gorgeous and takes you right outside of the restaurant which has been faithfully recreated on stage, so audiences will need to remember that the actual story, however, is fictional,” she added.
Christine Anthony, who portrays Betty, noted that it is “great to finally bring the play to life on stage.”
“I was part of the original reading back in 2019. For me it actually worked out well. I live in Heath, so driving back and forth in the winter months could have been a challenge Anthony said.
“It’s also a privilege to be the first actor to create a new character on stage for the first time,” she added.
Anthony called Betty an “admirable character who faces a lot of challenges in her life.”
“She never considers herself to be a victim and never looks back, but always looks forward. Betty takes responsibility for her choices and deals with the consequences,” she said.
The cast of “Betty & The Patch” also includes Katie Mack as Cristina, Issa Best as Bobo, Brad Shepard as Joey, Michael Morales as Michael, and J. T. Waite as Andy.
In accordance with regulations from the Actors’ Equity Association, an American labor union representing those who work in live theatrical performance, the Majestic Theater requires all attendees to wear masks at all times, except when eating and drinking, to be fully vaccinated against COVID, and to present their vaccination card or a photo or other proof of it on their cell phone. No food or drink may be brought into the theater, and must be consumed in the Majestic Café.
Tickets to “Betty & The Patch” range from $31 to $35 and are available at the Majestic’s box office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., or by phone at (413) 747-7797.
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