BWW Reviews: THE REAL QUEEN OF HEARTS AIN'T EVEN PRETTY Scores High

For my second play of the weekend, I headed to South City Theatre to check out their new space. It is twice the size of their old place and much newer and nicer. The theatre was sold out for their opening night, which is wonderful and the whole audience was excited to be a part of this special occasion. And with good reason.

THE REAL QUEEN OF HEARTS AIN'T EVEN PRETTY written by Brad Bailey is set in 1976 Winston County High School. The set is minimal, yet appropriate to the locker room it is supposed to portray. Being used as the backstage/ storage area for this year's Queen of Hearts pageant, it is sufficiently messy and sparse.

From the moment the show starts, you can feel the energy from these girls. The conversation is real and well paced. The casting is perfect and each character is natural and believable. Giselle Casadaban is perfect as the head cheerleader who is more like a real cheerleader than the air headed, bimbos often portrayed. Ms. Casadaban as Liz is smart, manipulative and more antiestablishment than the usual cliché. Although she is not in the pageant this year, she has been in the past and speaks with authority about the history and tradition of the contest she seems to dislike. Yet she has offered to be a part of it by working backstage to watch over things.

Kaylee Ramey as Cass is adorable. Totally controlled by Liz, she finally makes her own choices by the end of the show and you actually see the transformation. Kevin Bertschinger as Sherri Lee- the perfect pageant girl, is beautiful and haughty. Snobby to the other girls and the subject of much of their conversation when she is out of the room, she later lets down her guard and you see the change right before your eyes.

Lastly, Frances Pope as Paula, is the contestant we can probably relate to the most. In the contest to appease her mom and sister, a past winner, you can tell she does not want to be there. When she walks on to the SCT stage after being sent back to the dressing room for being drunk and throwing up on the faculty sponsor's shoes, you know you are watching something special. Ms. Pope is funny, endearing, and yet tragic. Her comedic timing is spot on and her vulnerability shines through all of her bravado. She is definitely one to watch.

The entire play was skillfully crafted by director Lisa Ponder. The blocking was clean and inventive. Even small details like Paula's face in perfect pageant make up that has been smeared by tears and alcohol, are handled expertly. During intermission as the crowd buzzed, Cass and Liz, still in character, come out to straighten the "locker room", take another swig of the bottle left there and giggle about whatever high school girls giggle about.

This play is just right for this venue. It is character driven, not depending on a fancy set or special effects, but on the actors knowing who they are and where they have been. When QUEEN OF HEARTS has serious moments touching on sibling rivalry, peer pressure and eating disorders, the cast is prepared to handle the subject matter in an honest way. Each character was multifaceted and the entire show keeps you interested start to finish.

This is what theatre should be- it is funny, intriguing, and makes you continue to think long after you have left the theatre. BRAVO to South City for a strong opening to what I hope is a long, successful time in their new space.

THE REAL QUEEN OF HEARTS AIN"T EVEN PRETTY runs Friday, April 24- 26 and next weekend Thursday, April 30- May 2. Go to www.southcitytheatre.com for specific times and more information.

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