Article Photos

HOPEDALE - The Hope Players' upcoming production of Christopher Sergel's adaptation of "Cheaper by the Dozen," from the book by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, is based on a true story.

The comedy will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6-7 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at Harrison-Hopedale Elementary School.

According to Wikipedia, "Cheaper by the Dozen" came out originally as a 1948 book by Frank Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.

The book is a memoir about growing up in the 1920s as two of 12 children of time-motion study and efficiency expert Frank Bunker Gilbreth and his wife Lillian Moller Gilbreth.

The title comes from one of Frank Gilbreth Sr.'s favorite jokes. When he and his family were out driving and stopped at a red light, a pedestrian would ask, "Hey, mister! How come you got so many kids?" Gilbreth would pretend to ponder the question carefully, and then just as the light turned green he would reply, "Well, they come cheaper by the dozen, you know."

The Gilbreth siblings' book was adapted into a 1950 film starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy.

Two later films with the same title starred Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, but bore no resemblance to the original story beyond depicting a family with 12 children. The 1950 sequel to "Cheaper by the Dozen," "Belles on Their Toes," also was adapted into a film in 1952.

The stage version of the book by Christopher Sergel was written specifically for community and academic theaters and will be presented by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing Co.

Hope Players Executive Director Andrew Pelegreen III said the choice of the comedy with dramatic overtones was a logical one for the players.

"First of all, this is good, clean family entertainment, and we are a family-friendly community theater," Pelegreen explained.

"Secondly, many of our active members come from large families like the Gilbreths and can identify easily with the situations in the play."

Advance tickets for "Cheaper by the Dozen" may be purchased from any cast member or from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m weekdays at the Hopedale Municipal Building.

Tickets also will be sold at the door before each performance.

For information, call Hope Players President Donna Runt at (740) 937-2208 or Pelegreen at (740) 937-2629.

The Hope Players is a nonprofit, family-friendly community theater organization that is open to all area residents of all ages.

Information about the group is available at www.hopeplayers.org.