Jonathan Meyer.

This past week, I hope you found a bit of time to go see A Hi-Way Inn Holiday at the Wieting Theatre in Toledo. I know I certainly was excited to be there on opening night, which also happened to be the world premiere. What a cool attraction for the Wieting.

I say this very sparingly because I’m a print journalist, but it was pretty neat seeing our community theater get some TV news attention, as much as that pains me to admit.

Right from the get-go, I appreciated how many layers this play had. From the winter theme woven throughout the show, to characters from vastly different backgrounds, to the time jump in the final act during the pandemic, there was always something new to discover. It gave the actors plenty of opportunities to interact not only with one another, but with the setting, and all the little details Tom Akers built into the script.

I also appreciated that every character had a chance to shine. Whether it was a well-timed kick square to the you-know-where, a character becoming just a little too influenced by a drink or two, or someone ending up covered in fake snow, each cast member had their own memorable comedic moment. There was always something entertaining happening on stage.

One thing I always appreciate in a play is when I think I’ve figured out where the story is going, only for it to take me somewhere even better. A Hi-Way Inn Holiday did exactly that. The story continually set itself up in ways that exceeded my expectations, and by the end of the show, I found myself genuinely invested in watching this unlikely group of strangers become friends. It was done in such a natural and heartfelt way that perfectly complemented the Iowa setting.

That might have been my biggest takeaway: just how Iowan this play felt. The cultural references and little nods to our state’s history made it feel uniquely ours. Mentioning Iowa’s Woodstock was an absolutely genius move by Tom Akers, and there were plenty of other references that had the audience laughing because they felt so familiar.

I also think the set design played a huge role in making the production as effective as it was. I loved the elevated seating area with the tables and chairs. Having Dan overlook the rest of the action from above, delivering judgmental comments whenever he pleased, was consistently hilarious. It was a simple choice that added a lot to the comedy.

I love that the simple premise of people getting snowed in at a small-town hotel can evolve into a story about state pride, loving your neighbor, and finding a few laughs along the way. It felt like a story that could only come from Iowa.

This was a great fit for our community, and the directors did an excellent job bringing what Tom Akers envisioned to life. Kudos to everyone involved. I was thoroughly entertained, and I’d happily watch the show again.

Although I’m no theater critic, I’m Just Jonathan.