PORT HURON, Mich.–EReunions of all kinds can bring out the best memories, the worst memories, and sometimes surprising revelations. Audiences will be able to relate to many such moments in The Foursome, being presented by Enter Stage Right at The Citadel Stage in Port Huron.

The Foursome, a comedy by Norm Foster and directed by Jeanine McCanham, shows a morning in the lives of Cameron (Sean Michaels), Ted (Marty Garavaglia), Rick (Malcolm Kramp) and Donnie (George Andaluz), four college friends brought together for a college reunion.  They take advantage of the opportunity to shoot 18 holes, and to catch up on each other’s lives.

Since leaving college, they have maintained various levels of contact and friendship with each other, and their distinct personalities and lifestyles are immediately apparent.  One is in a stable (a.k.a. mildly predictable) marriage; one is managing a small town business and a large family; one is recently married to a second (much younger) wife; and the fourth is a ladies man living a leisurely existence on the golf courses of Florida.

The routine of the golf course—teeing up in a certain order, finishing the hole and moving on to the next—makes an interesting framing device for the play, where the scenes change with the holes, and each hole adds a new thread to the conversation.  There is talk of sex lives and beer (they are college buddies after all), but also of colonoscopies and regrets.  Touchy subjects do arise, such as when Donnie is accused of being able to talk about nothing but his kids, but Donnie admirably defends his choices and his perfectly fulfilling life.

Other accusations are made and secrets are revealed, including some that probably were best-kept secret, and a couple of holes are played in awkward silence. But rather than quit the game and leave, they make the decision to let bygones be bygones and finish the round as friends. The real theme of the play, as an analogy to friendship, is hinted at when they admit that they don’t really love playing golf, which can be boring and irritating, but those frustrations are endured for the sake of the rare times when they hit that exquisite shot, when the ball kisses the bottom of the cup with a sound like an angel’s song.  It is those fleeting moments when everything goes perfect that make the whole process worth it.

The dynamic between the four men demonstrates a nice chemistry among the small cast.  Each actor develops his character based on short exposition, then propels that character into its distinct place in the group. They portray the easy familiarity of long-time friends, while still showing that even long-time friends don’t know everything about each other. Their pacing improves throughout the first act and is favorable to the comedic elements of the show, and personality quirks add to the laughs.

The modest set requires no scene changes, which keeps the show moving along well; the sound effects were simple, but the repeated (and rather precise) whoosh and thunk of every golf swing was especially satisfying.

Since some of the conversation and language are on the bawdy side, this show is probably best for older teens and up, but all is done in the name of laughter and friendship.

Enter Stage Right is presenting The Foursome along with a companion show by the same playwright, The Ladies Foursome, which has a similar theme and some parallels in story, but different characters, situations and cast (see a separate review for that show). The two shows are playing on alternating dates through April 14, 2019.

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