by Macey Levin
The third and final offering this year at Bridge Street Theatre’s Solofest is Archie Parish’s Parting Words by Ernest Thompson, author of On Golden Pond. This less than two hour play runs the gamut of human emotions portrayed by Mr. Thompson, who as the director and the star, defines each character through finely nuanced transformations often accomplished by a quick turn of a chair or slight bend of the body.
The simple set with minimal furniture along with light changes is ample backdrop for the stories that Thompson, as Archie Parish, shares with the audience who laughs at the addled Priest, fumphering his way through the opening eulogy, obviously ignorant of the deceased ‘s life; however, hidden in the comic overtones is the recurring theme of Thompson’s message- “How well can we know someone really?” The priest then calls upon Archibald Parish who has been asked by Barrett Mastriano’s widow to offer the eulogy for her husband. This is the first of many that Archie will deliver. Along with the eulogies we witness elements of Archie’s life as he confers with his doctor, his therapist as well as family members of the departed.
There are myriad stories about some people he knew and some he didn’t. He meets Bart Tanner who asks him to talk to his wife Carabelle suffering from dementia. He eulogizes Benji, a street drug dealer, while painting a darker picture of him; Dennis Coleman, another stranger, dies from Aids but his final wish is delivered to a shocked audience at the funeral. Archie shares a sweet story about Sylvia Simmons who gathered 127 dogs from kill shelters and reveals that, “I was the one being rescued. ‘Twas a privilege to feel useful.”
Interspersed with the tales of human suffering and release we wonder about the motivation for Archie’s funereal commitment to perfect strangers? Why is he visiting a therapist and a physician while often dodging their probes and hiding behind wise-cracking quips.
His conversations with Rupert are comical as they also touch upon truths that makes them both uncomfortable and Dr. Adena offers observations that Archie is unwilling to accept.
Gradually, Thompson reveals the one story that Archie has been avoiding, masterfully peeling back the layers behind his unusual need to provide eulogistic comfort.
Thompson’s direction and staging effects maintain the pace of the production. Each time a scene change is required the character rotates the office chair or adjusts his stance to suggest a different personality. Even the footrests on the wheelchair are utilized into a characters persona.
As interesting as the various plot elements are, it is Mr. Thompson’s acting that gives the play its strength and drive. As solo performer, he plays all the characters and invests each of them with specific qualities. The voices, the physical attitudes and especially the line readings… comic, somber, throwaways… provide a unique life to each of the personalities. Thompson’s performance engages the audience and bonds us with Archie’s search for truth.
As he dances to a musical accompaniment entitled “Galaxies” Archie’s feeling of release is palpable.
As a side note Ernest Thompson’s play On Golden Pond is scheduled for a Broadway run this year. This prolific writer, actor, director, musician continues to add to a lengthy resume with a rare elan and insight into the human condition.
Archie Parish’s Parting Words (A new play by Ernest Thompson); Director: Ernest Thompson; Cast: Ernest Thompson: (Archie Parrish (and a whole lot of other people)); Set Design: Ernest Thompson; Composer: Justin Jaymes; Choreographer: Julia Wagner; Lights: John Sowle; Running time: two hours, one intermission; May 20-22, 2026; Bridge Street Theatre, 45 Bridge Street, Catskill, NY.