REVIEW: The HTC’s “The Thanksgiving Play”  Triumphantly Opens the 2025-26 Season

The Hampton Theatre Company triumphantly opened its 2025–26 season with the acclaimed comedy “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse, which will run until November 2nd at the Quogue Community Hall. Cheers to Producer George A. Loizides and Director Mary Powers for successfully launching HTC’s new initiative, the Jane Stanton “Celebrating Women in Theatre” project, highlighting underrepresented voices in a traditionally male-dominated field.

What makes “The Thanksgiving Play” so endearing is the wonderful individual performances of Molly Brennan, Jason Moreland, Lindsey Sanchez, and Scott J. Butler. Their efforts had the audience chuckling, smiling, and breaking out in total belly laughs throughout the 90-minute one-act show.

Lindsey Sanchez, who plays “Logan,” brings her stage gravitas to this show as she is the adhesive factor that lifts the performances of all the other actors through her multiple acting talents. She does this through her role as Logan (the school teacher), whose goal is to put together a group of well-intentioned educators to devise an inclusive Thanksgiving school play. What happens is pure comedy, and Lindsey Sanchez gives a superlative performance.

Jason Moreland in his role as “Jaxton” brings his talents to project pure comedy in his every move, expression, eye gesture and voice. He is so natural under the bright lights that the audience sort of enjoyed  every breath he took on stage and laughed every time he said anything. Mr. Morehead comedic reactions were spectacular when the teams misguided efforts unraveled spectacularly.

Molly Brennan’s portrayal of Alicia brings a youthful, sexy sizzle of comedy and energy to the show. Her kinetic acting prowess was on full display as she owned the stage when her character was called on to come to life and add comedy to the scene. With her facial expressions, hair flips, and stretching, she gives a winning, wonderful performance and was an audience favorite.

The sophisticated performance of Scott J. Butler as “Caden,” the complicated history expert brings a  different layer of comedy  to the show. His comedic lines through his effective delivery style seemed to manifest a sort of delayed chuckle and laughter throughout the audience as they processed what he said and why and how he said it. He had a sort of “Bob Newhart,” effect.

Kudos to HTC’s behind-the-scenes team. Mary Powers designed the marvelous set. Sebastian Paczynski designed the flawless Lighting. Meg Sexton designed the clear Sound/Video, and Teresa LeBrun designed the fabulous costumes. 

It always takes a village of efforts to create an evening of theater. Therefore, one must take the time to thank the following for a wonderful night enjoying  “The Thanksgiving Play:” Folks like Julia Morgan Abrams, the iconic House Manager who greets everyone cheerfully and respectfully. Then there are the efforts of the lead Carpenter, Steve Rogers, and Carpenter, Kieran Quinn. Sound Engineers, Jonathan Presto and Rob Reeve. The Rehearsal Stage manager, Melissa Didio, and The Production Stage manager, Jamie Baio.

The Box Office folks are Cat Bracksmayer and Debora Jacques, Production Graphics is Joe Pallister, and Lighting Tech is Kelly Weresnick. Thank you for your efforts.

For more tickets, visit  www.hamptontheatre.org.