'No Reservations' at St. Gabe's

by Kathleen Tobin

How’s this for a scoop?

There’s some scheming going on in the Canaryville neighborhood for the next two weekends, March 12, 13 and 14 and March 19-20, in which two lovely lasses from the parish of St. Cajetan Roman Catholic Church are inextricably involved!

And if you want to know more about this juicy bit of scandal, just drop by St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church, 4522 S. Wallace St. In one of Chicago’s oldest neighborhoods, the church has been the lynchpin since 1881, when it was founded, of all that’s holy and sacrosanct (and Irish) there.

The two lovely culprits at the center of this Canaryville scheme are a couple of lasses named Jane Kelly and Jean Connell—names that surely resonate in two of Chicago’s most Irish-dominated neighborhoods.

St. Gabriel is in an area once called “Chicago’s toughest neighborhood” and now deemed a “quiet” South Side oasis of Irish civilization (since when was an Irish neighborhood ever quiet?). St. Patrick Day “schemes” have been a tradition at the church that goes back for 75 years and still counting.

But Kelly and Connell, following in the footsteps of older, involved family members, are not working alone on this 2010 intrigue. Some 100 devotees of this tradition, calling themselves the St. Gabriel Theater Guild, are out to prove that the Irish stick together when it comes to doing something up right.

Working hard at writing skits, singing songs, making sets, putting together costumes and having a lot of fun on top of it all, the guild wants to make sure this 2010 project gets all the notoriety—oops, I mean publicity—that it deserves!

This scheme, as you have probably guessed by now, comes in the form of a musical/ variety show. It’s called “No Reservations.”

And, here’s where the plot thickens! This show is all about finding a way to avoid paying your bill after imbibing in a nice dinner at your favorite restaurant! How’s that for a corker? Who wouldn’t want to get in on such a deal and have so much fun in the process?

Such “schemes” have been around since 1935, according to Michelle Goga, a veteran writer behind the shows, when St. Gabe parishioners wanted to make more use of their nice auditorium.

“The show always came in the spring, around St. Pat’s Day,” said Goga, “so naturally it was called the ‘St. Patrick’s Day Play.’ But now the themes vary, and we have a writing team that starts working on the script in August.

“The team includes myself, my sister Christie Babuskow, the director, Jack Bracken, Pattie and Marty Sullivan, Sharon O’Connell and Brian Naughton.

“The idea was originally thought of as a fundraiser, but it has become much more than that: a beloved tradition in Canaryville for Irish families who have roots here since the beginning of the Union stockyards and who have seen their children over four generations take on roles they once performed.”

Kelly and Connell are fulltime teachers who have no formal thespian training, but they do have a natural talent for the stage and are now at the center of “No Reservations.”

Their mutual assessment is that the production is “really a great show.”

“Jane and I are two gals who decide to try to get away with not paying our restaurant bill,” said Connell. “When it works the first time, we try it again at a Mexican, Hillbilly and French restaurant. There are funny skits, Broadway tunes and a live band that really makes this a first-rate show.”

The parish community throws its support to the production, Connell said.

“It’s a ton of work, and this is my first show; but everybody, even the kids in the parish, get into the act.”

Kelly follows in the footsteps of her father John, a longtime popular performer in the show.

“My mom and dad were originally from St. Gabriel’s,” said Kelly, “and my dad was one of the original St. Gabriel Players. After they were married, they moved to St. Barnabas, my first home where I served as a reader before moving to St. Cajetan.”

When asked to reveal the funniest part of the show, Kelly was mum.

“I don’t want to give anything away, but just say that when the two girls are brought into court to explain their escapades, it’s just too funny for words.”

General admission tickets are $20 for the 8 p.m. evening shows. At 2:30 p.m., on Sunday, March 14, a matinee will feature a special $10 ticket for those 55 and over.

For tickets and more information, call Debbie Morgan at (773) 538-8272.

This is part of the March 10, 2010 online edition of The Beverly Review.

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