BWW Reviews: Get the Wine! Cape Playhouse Presents WOMEN IN JEOPARDY

This is one show for which it is imperative that someone yells "Don't forget the wine!" so that each character is mentally prepared for what mess is to come. Now that that has been said and everyone has been sufficiently warned, the audience is give a trio of middle-aged, divorced women who spend their free time in book clubs, Spanish classes and holding female-only sleepovers; if there is not already wine visible on the table, someone is bound to pull it out of her handbag or from some hidden compartment soon enough. There is Mary, Jo and Liz: three women who are more adventurous and eager to prove themselves right than one would ever imagine; between boyfriends, daughters' boyfriends and their images as older women who just need the non-killer type of guy to make their lives that much more dramatic, the Cape Playhouse's production of Women in Jeopardy provides enough excitement and whodunit humor that will have audiences captivated until the final moment when our heroines are finally able to put the wine down.

Written by the very talented and well-established Wendy MacLeod and directed by Sean Daniels, Women in Jeopardy is a new comedy that is in the midst of celebrating its world premiere(s), coming to the Cape Playhouse stage from its original and only other presentation in Rochester, NY as part of the 2013-2014 season. As part of the Playhouse's eighty-ninth season, MacLeod's play welcomes both Playhouse veterans and newcomers alike to be a part of this wildly funny production about women who are on the verge of something great...if only their versions of what they consider "great" matched up. MacLeod showcases her gifted hand at writing with this play, and the Playhouse was right in choosing this show to be a part of its 2015 season, as there is so much to be found within its plot that will make audiences holler with laughter while in the meantime allowing its theories and suspicions of the wily culprit's identity run rampant until the mystery is at last solved.

Women in Jeopardy introduces three women: Jo (Julia Brothers*, who gave me the most reasons to smile by her facial expressions alone), Mary (Jennifer Cody*, to whom credit must be given for how well she withheld her sense of fortitude, even though this play sent her through quite a few difficult decisions) and Liz (Laurie Wells*, who does really well to portray more of a bouncy, carefree and youthful spirit than do her two friends...even though she is not the youngest there, as Mary stresses continuously) - three divorced and self-sufficient women who are all fascinated by Liz's new boyfriend Jackson (Liam Craig*, who is REALLY good at being the suspicious type, even when he isn't the character everyone thinks is murdering people).

Yet, their fascination isn't based on his looks of less-than-pleasant personality; instead, when news reaches them of Jackson's missing hygienist, Jo and Mary worry that their friend is getting a bit too close to a possible murderer. Through a boatload of excuses, lies being tossed about every which way and covered up with the keenness of a four year old (which, in part, made this play hilarious) and the tactic to dissuade Liz's daughter Amanda (Ashley Shamoon*, who does well to teeter between being a complete moron and actually having a bit of wit about her character) from going camping with Jackson and Amanda's ex Trenner (Scott Rad Brown*, who is REALLY likable but alas still thoroughly convincing as an unfortunate buffoon) to go and save her if she does, Women in Jeopardy really places its characters in circumstances which, were they actually to happen, could not possible be this funny.

Women in Jeopardy is quite unique because of its ability to come full circle with everything and everyone mentioned in its plot, making sure that every detail brought about is accounted for and then used to either further the mystery behind what is going on, or is used to its utmost potential, going on extreme tangents and managing to divert the audience ever so slightly from the central plot. Yet, MacLeod manages to connect the lives of each of her six (perhaps seven...) characters and turns what could be a rather simple, straightforward plot into something incredibly funny, witty and downright wild in its nature. Only the minds of two scared women could turn this into so elaborate a plot, as they embark to stop their friends from making a deadly mistake...or perhaps its just all in their minds? In the process of saving their friend, accusations fly wild until the hygienist's murderer (alas she was killed) is discovered as a revelation had by Jo and Mary. After the amount of investigating they do and the measures they take to ensure everyone's safety and well being, it would be unfair for anyone else to figure it out!

This show is a wild ride that never truly comes to a stop, even after the mystery has been solved. This has much to do with the actors involved, as they were so utterly convincing as the characters they portrayed. For example, Brothers and Cody are just the ideal tag team on that stage; they have such chemistry on stage, and the way in which they are so completely in sync when scheming to solve this mystery all by themselves is absolutely lovely to watch. As mentioned before, Brothers has the best reactions to the absurdity occurring before her, and I think it was almost a natural response for the audience to turn and seek out her reaction when something funny just happened. Cody is just relentless in her quest to save Liz and all associated with her, but I think the most comical situation she finds herself in is with Trenner and his belief that she wants to have a secret fling with him. It really takes a lot to deal with everything that occurs in this play, but she handles the absurdity well, letting the audience know that she is on the brink of insanity yet bounces back to help save the day.

Wells is a lovely actress who really knows how to let others have it when she is angry, but also convinces the audience that he character is both a bit naïve and also a questionable mother; she is really great to behold. Craig does well as the possible murderer, and I really enjoyed watching him try to figure out whether or not he should be the creepy dentist or the frisky boyfriend; playing both parts of his personality was pretty entertaining to watch. Shamoon probably has a lot of fun playing such a dimwitted character, and the audience can see this! As I said before, there is a moment towards the end when Amanda comes to terms with who she is and how she has been treating Trenner, and although everyone loves laughing at the dimwit of the group, it really is touching to watch people change on stage, even if for such a short time. Finally, Brown is incredibly talented and hilarious. I'm not sure what else to say about him...that's a good thing! Overall, the actors were superb and did a great job bringing this play to such a high degree of life.

Women in Jeopardy opened on July 14th at the Cape Playhouse, located at 820 Main Street in Dennis Village, MA, and will continue performances thru July 25th. Tickets start at $33, and may be purchased either by visiting the box office, calling (508).385.3911 or by going to capeplayhouse.com. The performance schedule is as follows: Monday and Tuesday @ 7:30, Wednesday @ 2:30 and 7:30, Thursday @ 2:30 and 8:00, Friday and Saturday @ 8:00.

Enjoy the show!!

Photo Credit: Ken Huth

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