Reading, MA — For longtime Reading resident Lou Palumbo, the historic Old Hose House on Main Street has become a second home. Most Friday evenings, Lou is there working on sets for an upcoming theatrical production by Colonial Chorus Players, who have been owners of the building since 1972. On Saturday mornings, he can be found in the workshop cleaning, organizing, and doing small projects, such as building a storage cabinet to hold paint cans.
But this weekend and next, Lou will be seen on stage as the Lord & Taylor delivery man in the classic Neil Simon comedy Barefoot in the Park.
Lou first became involved with Colonial Chorus Players in the early 1980s, starting out behind the scenes as a member of the stage crew for the musical Oklahoma! But gradually, he became the go-to guy whenever a production needed extra men, as is often the case in community theater, which led to minor roles such as a member of President Roosevelt’s Cabinet in Annie.
During rehearsals for Damn Yankees in 1997, Lou remembers being approached by the director. “First, the director said, ‘All you have to do is put on a baseball uniform, march across the stage, and say two words,’” he recalls. “But then he said, ‘Oh, we could use an extra reporter in this scene’ or ‘We need a paper hanger over there in that scene.’” By the time opening night came around, Lou had a total of nine costume changes.
Lou says his favorite role was as Charlie, the traveling anvil salesman, in The Music Man because he got to play the antagonist.
After appearing in a few shows in the 1990s, it seemed like Lou’s time in the limelight had come to an end. But when a small, comedic role became available for CCP’s current production of Barefoot in the Park, Lou good-naturedly agreed to take it on.
How does it feel to return to the stage at the age of 81? “It’s been a lot of fun,” Lou says, though he admits it’s harder than he thought it would be. “I don’t just come out and say a line—I really have to know quite a few of the other actors’ lines in the scene so I get the timing just right for my entrance. But it’s been good to be participating in this part of the show, to see how it’s done from the cast and director’s point of view.”
Will Barefoot in the Park be the start of a second act on stage? Lou chuckles while responding to that question. “Last night, one of the people I know was at the show, and she said, ‘Is this your first time on stage?’ and I said, ‘No, it’s my last!’”
Colonial Chorus Players’ production of Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon continues February 14–16 and February 21–23 at the Old Hose House Theater, 1249 Main Street, Reading. In addition to Lou Palumbo, the cast features Lauren Casey, Michael Mazzone, Sue Brother, Glenn Wakeley, and Benjamin Brennan under the direction of David Costa.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $22 for seniors and students and are available online at ccp1961.org and at the door 30 minutes before showtime with cash or Venmo. For more information, visit ccp1961.org.
