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Secret Bridesmaids' Business
By Jenny Sandman
Jen Apostolou, Jeremy Waters, Tamara Lovatt-Smith,
and Emily Vacchiano
(Photo ©)
(Photo: Richie Fahey )
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The bridal industry has immured itself in the concept of the perfect day, never admitting that such a thing doesn't exist. But don't try telling a bride that.
Meg is at the eve of her wedding. Her frazzled mother is desperately trying to make sure that she has that perfect day which means she obsesses over the length of the pew ribbons, the fold in the name cards, and the matte vs. shiny finish on the bridesmaids' shoes. Meg herself is no less frazzled though she looks forward to the big event. That includes drinking a little and relaxing with her friends after all the stressful planning leading up to the big day. T
But trouble and conflict loom over the happy event. Meg's best friend Lucy has discovered a terrible secret--James, the groom, has been having an affair. Her dilemma: Should she tell Meg? While Lucy is in favor of brutal honesty, reasoning that it will be better for her to find out now and avoid a messy divorce later, the other bridesmaid, Angela, is against that idea. She's convinced that they shouldn't ruin Meg's dreams or interfere in her relationship. Why spoil what is supposed to be the happiest day of her life? Plenty of time for reality later. Eaten up with guilt, Lucy finally spills the beans, and all hell breaks loose.
The play doesn't really live up to its billing as a comedy, despite some very funny moments. Essentially, it's about romanticism vs. pragmatism -- with Lucy embodying the pragmatic view of love and relationships. Ardor fades, people stray, life isn't perfect. Better to be honest about your shortcomings and go into a marriage with open eyes. Meg has a more romantic view of life, as does almost everyone else in the play. True love lasts forever, infidelity is something that happens to other people, and her wedding day will be the happiest day of her life. When Meg finds out that emotions aren't so black and white, and that marriage truly is a compromise, it's a bitter pill to swallow. Especially in a wedding dress.
Australian company Hair of the Dog (known for last year's He Died with a Falafel in His Hand) is running Secret Bridesmaids' Business in repertory with The John Wayne Principle anda late night show called Men. . It's an enjoyable show. The actors are energetic in a very bubbly Australian way.
Victoria Roberts is almost too perfect as the grating, exasperating mother of the bride; Jeremy Waters as the philandering groom is almost too spineless to be believed. The true finds are Jen Apostolou as Lucy and Tamara Lovatt-Smith as Meg. Lucy is in many ways is the only likeable character of the play. She's honest and forthright and, though you want to hate her for spoiling the fun, you can't, because there's no meanness in her. Apostolou plays this to the hilt, counterbalancing Meg's wild emotional swings to the point that you can feel her balancing influence even when she's not on stage. Director Gary Schwartz emphasizes this, as well. Though the play could do without the inner monologues from each of the characters (these are illuminating, but slow the action of the play considerably), he manages to keep the pace as brisk as possible.
Ultimately I left the theater with mixed feelings, but then, maybe that's the point. Watching someone else's relationship implode is not generally my idea of fun. Hair of the Dog keeps things lighthearted enough to make it bearable.
The cast has a great dynamic and the company shows real potential. I wouldn't recommend it to any nervous brides, but for everyone else, it's probably worth a look.
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SECRET BRIDESMAIDS' BUSINESS Written by Elizabeth Coleman Directed by Gary Schwartz With Tamara Lovatt-Smith, Deb Crisford, Jen Apostolou, Jeremy Waters, Emily Vacchiano and Victoria Roberts Lighting Design by Justin Partier Sound Design by Ken Hypes Costume Design by Daphne Javitch Set Design by Scott Aranow Running time: Two hours with one ten-minute intermission Hair of the Dog, Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster Street; 212-352-3101 August 26th through October 2nd; Monday through Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 5 pm. Tickets $15 and $25 Reviewed by Jenny Sandman based on September 13th performance |
Retold by Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Co.
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