Review: Everyone Wins THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR

When people in the community try their hand at theatre, including people with no experience, and do so with fun and love while raising money for a good cause, I think we are all winners. And to quote THE RED VELVET CAKE WARS , "you can agree with me, or you can be wrong!"

This past weekend I saw THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR, a Jones-Hope-Wooten comedy, at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Leeds. This small, inclusive church has a yearly theatrical presentation and during intermission invites you to share refreshments as part of your ticket price. As with most of the plays written by the Jones-Hope-Wooten trio such as MAMA WON'T FLY and DIXIE SWIM CLUB, THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR is funny from start to finish.

Set in Sweet Gum, Texas the cast of characters just gets wilder and wilder. Right at the start we meet Cee Cee Windham, played here by Donna Love. Cee Cee has the local cable access show and while trying to teach us to live "the beautiful life" she makes us laugh at her rough edges. I thoroughly enjoyed this character and would be happy to watch Ms. Love on a real cable access show any time.

Centered on three cousins of the Verdeen family, Gaynelle played by Misty Wade, Jimmy Wyvette played by Donna Cleckler and Peaches played by Salena Whalen-Stalker, this hilarious production has interesting characters coming in from all sides.

All three cousins are different, but funny and Ms. Wade. Ms. Cleckler and Ms.Whalen-Stalker make you feel their more sisterly affection and competitiveness. All three women shined in their roles.

With a minimal set, the cast and crew is able to make many scene changes quickly and efficiently. The whole show is fast paced and keeps you interested and engaged.

THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR was a nice way to finish off my "weekend of laughter." It reminded me again how important it is for communities to come together and work on something that teaches such teamwork and brings such laughter to the audience. It reminded me why I took this job- to share theatre from across the area, not just the big theatres with the high dollar budgets, but everyone who sets out to entertain and/or educate the community they live in.

Kudos to the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany for helping us to put the world outside away for a couple of hours and for making us all laugh. This fun show will be performed again this coming weekend, Friday & Saturday: June 17 & 18, at 7:30 PM and Sunday: June 19, at 2:30 PM.

For more information and tickets, go to their website http://www.epiphany-leeds.org/the-red-velvet-cake-war

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