Director Jordan Climie directs this three-ring circus of “heartache, hope, sadness and strife” dashing in and out of a simple serviceable set (Jeff Boerger) providing many entrances and escape routes for the episodic snippets offering different perspectives on marriage… none of them particularly optimistic. Younger, single people who’ve been to one too many weddings will find it hilarious.
Adam and Nicole’s wedding starts with an awkward fatality, as rabbi Jeff Boerger collapses after a meandering homily, repeatedly getting the groom’s name wrong. At the end, he returns as his own widow. Jeff’s sincerity and heart, which serves well in most roles, made these two more sad than funny. Perhaps a more stereotypical Jewish persona would have tilted it to the funny side. Sally Hecksel as bridesmaid Eva (who will be replaced by Hannah Feuka in week 2) also brought enough sincerity to strike me as more sad than funny.
On the funny side, Taylor Rupp, Lauren Kreuer and especially Angela Dill (who did not let her age or height keep her from being the most believably childlike) brought many laughs as three flower girls run amok, spooked first by imagined ghosts and later by one of those “adult situations.” Grace Hinkley was excellent as bride-zilla, Nicole, alternately alienating and gravitating toward her confused fiancé/spouse, Adam (Joe Clark.) Bridesmaid Kathleen Egan was appropriately over-the-top, portraying a wide spectrum of well modulated drunkenness, delusion and ditziness that were both entertaining and touching.
This is a comedy twisted toward tragedy — probably better enjoyed by the newly divorced than newlyweds. It runs 95 minutes without intermission and continues 8pm Thur/Fri/Sat and 2pm Sun through October 1.
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