It manages to be both sassy and scholarly and a whole lot of fun. A three-woman team romps through Miss America and the constitution and red/blue state impasses and James Madison and… You don’t want to know too much about this show before seeing it. It will take you by delightful surprise and throw in a perceptive but painless history/civics lesson as a bonus.
Lauren Gunderson’s script is disarmingly deep — somewhat reminiscent of Rob Robnowski’s wonderful Great American Road Trip of last Summer Circle. Both scripts are entirely entertaining while raising real questions about how we are either “taming or trashing” our constitution and our country. There’s a dusting of feminism in The Taming, as well — with the all-female cast, female director (Lynn Lammers) and all female crew designers (except lighting by Brian M. Scruggs.)
Melisa Mercieca opens the show vamping in a delightfully over-the-top gown, including skirt lights and patriotic wings (costumes Holly Iler) in a hilarious scene that sets up expectations that will not be fulfilled. Alysia Kolascz (blue state) and Angela Dawe (red state) appear as a militant environmentalist blogger and an uptight staff-handler of a womanizing senator. An unpredictable three-ring circus of clashes, compromises, coercion and time-travel makes for an hour and a half of historical and hysterical entertainment - plus dance moves and confetti. All three actresses are on top of their games.
Do not miss this gem. It continues through October 22.
http://www.williamstontheatre.org