All is not right behind the scenes at the local country club. A white-collar conviction threatens the social order, not to mention the upcoming tennis tournament in this suburban New Jersey comedy called THESE PEOPLE, penned by Chris Widney. Kind of cartoonish in a low budget "Caddyshack" kind of way, the simple premise provides coherent, escapist entertainment the whole family can enjoy.

The couple in trouble is the Shurls. Jerry failed to pay some taxes, and he will be serving two years in jail. The main concern, however, is maintaining the family’s membership at the country club. Cheryl Shurl has fought her way to the A Team of tennis circles, and young Hillary (played by Paris Rose Yates at the performance attended) is poised to be both an athlete and an artist, so daddy’s crimes are just too inconvenient for THESE PEOPLE to deal with.

Of course, there are obstacles to maintaining membership in the form of senior club members Pearl, Richard and Roland (portrayed by a cardboard cutout). As THESE PEOPLE battle for position and power, deals are made, backs are stabbed and truths are realized. Conflict arises, is confronted, is resolved, and all with a wink and a grin. As the plot is revealed, director Mary Catherine Burke keeps the action, and her actors, bouncing along at a healthy pace. With omnipresent actor William DeMeritt (credited as Ballboy) representing everyone from the bellboy to an adolescent Hillary to the family dog, the humor, and in fact the whole feel of the show, reaches a more comprehensive level than I would have anticipated.

So, THESE PEOPLE is not quite at the level of a brilliant comedic undertaking. It is funny, though. It is a no-brainer. It is what it appears to be, and it is absolutely audience accessible. Not a bad thing at all.

- Kessa De Santis -

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