Jitters
Jitters Bernie “O’B” Brien
Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival – Patron’s Room</strong>
It’s Christmas time in Concannon’s Cafe in a working class section of Boston. Bernie O’Brien returns from retirement in “Mount Dorky, Florida” to a small time capsule of tough guys friends who can’t seem to escape the early 1960’s. Listening got Bernie O’Brien talk is like hanging out at that exact same bar – stories of daring do and butt kicking fill the air, sometimes they lead somewhere, sometimes not. Titular “Jitters” is the local alcoholic, people take care of him by 32 years the cheap gin has eaten the sheathing off his nerves and there’s not much control left. He’s only mentioned in passing, I’d like to know more about him. O’Brien fared better, his best story tells of running an apartment complex up I-95 known as “The Plywood Ranch.” He added a hot tub which drew not only girls in bikini’s but wanton biker gangs. Bikini’s are easier to remove than Bikers, but he used fists and fright tactics and keep his little world safe for everyone. It’s a dreamy, rambling evening, with the past taking on the warm golden glow today’s reality never will achieve. O’Brien is what you want a good grandfather to be – funny, gentle and not prone to repeating himself.
This show is part of the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival. Tickets and other information may be found at http:\www.OrlandoFringe.org
