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'Always a Bridesmaid' -- comedic tour de force
Nevada Daily Mail
"Round up the troops and sober up the preacher!" We have a wedding to attend!
The Hoffman Financial Resources sponsored play, "Always a Bridesmaid" is set to debut this weekend and you don't want to miss out on the nonstop hilarity the talented cast brings to the stage. The jones, hope, wooten comedy (Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten) is a tale of enduring lifelong friendship between four southern women and their promise to be bridesmaids at each others weddings. The characters are rich with personality and bring to life a certain charm that we associate with the endearing hospitality of the south.
The atmosphere is in the vein of such loved TV and stage friendships the likes of Truvy, M'Lynn, Clairee, and Ouiser's of "Steel Magnolias"; Blanche, Sophia, Rose, and Dorothy's of "The Golden Girls"; or Vivi, Caro, Necie, and Teensy's of "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." In fact, one of the writer's of the play -- Jamie Wooten -- was a writer and producer for several seasons of the series "The Golden Girls," for which he won the Writers Guild of America award. "Always a Bridesmaid" echoes the theme of the unbreakable bond of friendship among southern women, but brings a new life to the genre and an endearing presentation of how love has many different definitions.
The audience is transported to the sitting room of the historical Laurelton Oaks in Laurelton, Va., where the play takes place over a number of years -- and weddings. Immediately, you will notice the impressive set design, which was done with such care and precision that the audience will begin to believe that the fourth wall has vanished and they are merely another patron of Laurelton Oaks. The fine furnishings, and wall hangings set the stage for the skilled cast to maneuver the plot with ease. Acknowledgment must be given to Tom Taylor for set design; John Scarborough, Al Fenske, and Tom Schmidt for set construction; Lynda Jones for set painting; and Michael Seitz for artwork and poster design. The aesthetic of a play's set contributes a large portion to the believability of the story, and this crew has pulled it off wonderfully in "Always a Bridesmaid."
The play opens with the Bride (played by Jenna Weston) giving a toast at her wedding reception. Weston fills the role of a narrator of sorts, appearing between acts and setting up the flashback of scenes through a retelling of accounts her mother and her godmothers experienced at each other's weddings. From the beginning of the toast, Weston pulls off the role of a young southern belle excited about love, marital bliss, and all the naiveté that goes along with it.
It is discovered that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree when the audience is introduced to the bride's mother, Libby Ruth (played by Jane Ann Hancock). Hancock brilliantly plays the role of the hopeless romantic with the perfect husband, marriage, and life. She is the glue that holds the friendships together by being the supportive, positive, motivating friend at each of the weddings. Hancock brings a character to life that sees past all of life's hiccups and only focuses on the one thing that matters -- love.
We are soon introduced to Mrs. Endicott (played by Kay Harper) who is the proprietor of Laurelton Oaks. Harper seamlessly portrays Mrs. Endicott as the determined venue owner with a high success rate and a "no-holds-barred" attitude. If you plan on getting married at Laurelton Oaks, you WILL get married at Laurelton Oaks -- Sedalia Endicott will make sure of that. Her determination to see a bride down the aisle culminates in a hilarious scene towards the end of the play, which I won't spoil for future audience members by going into detail. It's definitely a laugh out loud moment that will be remembered for quite some time.
Monette (played by Bobbie Lou Barber) is the friend who is the perpetual bride. Now on marriage number three, Monette is certain that this one is the real deal. Barber fills the shoes of the character effortlessly. The audience will love how much Monette loves herself. She is the friend who is overly confident, brutally honest, brazen, and certain of who she is.
We are introduced to Charlie (played by Sam DeLaney) as she shows up for Monette's nuptials. She is sick, disheveled, and is what some southerners would refer to as a "hot mess." DeLaney had me laughing with her portrayal of Charlie -- a tree hugging, Birkenstock wearing, earth loving hippie who finds herself battling with the idea of losing her independence when faced with her own wedding day. "He's going to want to put his clothes in my closet. MY closet!!" she laments during a memorable scene in the Laurelton Oaks sitting room. Will she or won't she get married? Will Sedalia Endicott go to drastic lengths to see that this sale ... ahem ... "wedding" goes on without a hitch? You'll have to attend one of the play's showings to know for sure.
Deedra (played by Ricci Wood) rounds out the cast with her strong, opinionated personality. The voice of reason in most scenes, Wood mirrors the thought process of most of the audience members and gives them a voice in the play. "Monette, are you REALLY going to marry him?" "Charlie, are you going to leave the poor bug zapper at the altar, or ruin your life and marry him anyway?" -- whatever the question, no matter how tactless, Deedra is determined to get an answer and as an audience member, I'm thankful. Wood gives an outstanding performance in this role and pulls it off with ease.
In addition to the multifaceted characters, the costuming is simply delightful in this play. As the women parade out in the different tacky bridesmaid dresses and all the faux pas that go along with them, laughter is sure to abound. The costuming is done in part by Linda Emery, Jane Ann Hancock, Pete Schmidt, and various cast members.
The entire stage crew for "Always a Bridesmaid" was phenomenal. Whether it was the music between acts, the "lightning" effects during a stormy scene, or the many props used, the stage crew pulled it off without any hiccups. Members of the stage crew are Tammy Algiere, stage manager; Pete Schmidt, prop's manager; Andrew McNair, light board; and Kenny Jones, sound board. Of special mention is Linda Davidson, who acted as director for the play. Her thoughtful directing is noticed throughout each scene, character blocking, lighting cues, and so much more. I would put this in the books as another successful play performed under the tutelage of Davidson.
"Always a Bridesmaid" is sure to delight audience members and leave them chuckling long after the curtains have closed. Filled with many quips, you'll find yourself repeating your favorite lines for days. The play is presented by special arrangement through Dramatists Play Service, Inc., and sponsored by Hoffman Financial Resources. Tonight is the debut performance, set for 8 p.m., at the Fox Playhouse, 110 S. Main St., Nevada. There will be repeat performances at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 11, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 12. The play will then return next weekend for 8 p.m. performances on Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, followed by a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, April 19.