Large, strong ensemble brings to life a piece of Americana from the last century.

In Colorado Springs, First Company Theatre has reached into the past and pulled out a crowd-pleasing production of I Remember Mama. The piece is heart-warming, even sentimental. The humor, though, which First Company plays enthusiastically, saves it from being treacly.

The 1944 play, by John Van Druten, is based on the novel, Mama’s Bank Account, by Kathryn Forbes, which has had several lives as a 1948 film, a 1950s TV series and a 1979 musical version by Richard Rogers. Mama follows the fortunes and misfortunes of a Norwegian immigrant family in 1910 San Francisco.

The Hansen family lives on a shoestring, scrimping, planning and working together to get educated and realize the American dream. Challenges arrive in the form of union strikes, emergency operations and hospitalization — all happening amid bickering aunts and scandalous uncles. Mama (Nora Faircloth) perseveres, demonstrating understanding and grit as circumstances demand.

Director and First Company co-founder Marty Fennewald has assembled a large cast —17! — which, on opening night, performed without a hitch. Stage Manager Danielle Pate oversaw smooth scene changes and lighting cues.

Photo: Jamie Foster Photography

Game cast

Kevin Townsend as the rapscallion Uncle Chris, steals the show, enlivening every scene he’s in. Victoria Sullivan shifts easily across moods as Katrin, a wannabe writer who narrates the family story. As the mysterious and gallant boarder Mr. Hyde, Zach Engelman brings a humorously florid air. In her First Company debut, Ellie Faircloth (Dagmar) is moving and amusing in her attachments to her pets. Eleanor Wingert (Aunt Trina) and Nahum Young (Mr. Thorkelson) are delightful in an unlikely romance.

Set, props and costuming all combine nicely to build the world of the play. Props master Caitline Hull found vintage wall-mounted telephones and an antique Victrola record player. Costumer Kylee Cotterman individualizes the large cast, contributing to the distinct impact of each character. The set plus the period costumes create an authentic early 20^th century environment.

The multiple plot threads give the piece an episodic feel and work against dramatic climax and resolution. Characters are introduced, some never to return, some returning several scenes later. Papa Hansen, for example, appears in the first scene, then drops out of sight until the second act. Disputes between sisters Katrin and Christene (Michaela Wojick) erupt suddenly and are rather quickly resolved. The intended character development seems contrived and the moral of “don’t be selfish and materialistic” is so well-worn as to hardly make an impression.

Photo: Jamie Foster Photography

There is that humor, however, to keep the audience engaged. Uncle Chris and Arne (Caitlin Hull), share an amusing scene in which he recommends swearing as a pain remedy and teaches the hospitalized young woman how to do it, eventually scandalizing the more respectable family members.

Mama is from a bygone era and has those strengths and weaknesses. It is long on family values but it is realistic about the fact that families are often full of eccentrics and problems.

In the final scene the Hansen family has triumphantly come through sickness, death and revelations about character and the reality of bank accounts. The First Company cast was a well-oiled ensemble that generated strong family feelings and camaraderie in the final moments. With this show, First Company offers a chance to see an accomplished production of a representative piece of Americana.

Photo: Jamie Foster Photography