Director aims for 'Oscar' win

By Steven Marroni
steven.marroni@timesnews.com

NORTH EAST -- Chris Bucci was so impressed with a movie and its leading character that he's been working for three years to adapt the script for stage.

"Oscar" debuts at the North East High School auditorium Thursday and continues through Oct. 30.

"It's been exciting, but quite an endeavor," said Bucci, of Harborcreek. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of event."

"Oscar" is the comedic story of Angelo "Snaps" Provolone, a mobster trying to go straight after a death-bed promise to his father. Sylvester Stallone starred in the movie version in 1991. Bucci plays the lead in the local theater production.

Bucci has had some big-time help with the endeavor. He's been working with film director John Landis, film actor Harry Shearer and Elmer Bernstein, who wrote the film's score, to bring the story to stage for the first time. He'll be taping the local production, including a partially original stage script, for Landis.

"He's been great, supportive and wonderful," Bucci said.

With permission to perform the story, Bucci also took on putting together a cast.

"It's the epitome of community theater," said Bucci, who is also producing and co-directing the stage play. "We have people from North East, Corry, from Erie. We've really got a great group."

Director Jamie Pryber, like Bucci, is looking forward to the story's stage debut.

"It's an interesting piece because it's unique, and the style of farce is not done all that often," she said. "Chris wrote about 25 percent of his own material. It will be neat to see how the audience reacts to that."

Pryber has directed half a dozen plays and said this one will be unique in a number of ways. Cast members are not part of an established community theater group and will have quite a bit of freedom in playing their roles, Pryber said.

"This is a very good role to learn (acting)," said Nick Iacobucci, who will portray Provolone's lackey, Connie, in his first stage performance. "Connie says a lot of memorable things and has fun mannerisms. It's going to be great."

The cast also includes Patrick Devlin, Beth Ann Bohun, Shannon Solo, Jackie Jircitano, David DiCola, Terry Smith, Pryber, Betsy Butoryak, James Canfield, Dan Pruyn, Judy Stow, Craig Schneider and Clinton Young.

Play proceeds will benefit the Erie County Historical Society. Portions of the set will be given to the North East Community Players and All An Act Productions.