Review: THE WOLVES is a howling success at the Unicorn at the Unicorn Theatre IN KANSAS CITY

The call of the wild is an indoor soccer team made up of eleventh grade girls in THE WOLVES, now showing at the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City. Directed by Heidi Van, THE WOLVES is a glimpse into the minds and lives of a diverse group of girls from varied ethnic and social backgrounds.

First time author Sarah DeLappe humorously explores the thoughts and emotions of teenage girls whose conversations range from school, politics, history and sex. To truly appreciate this work a person would need to view it two or three times, as much of the humor and dialogue is lost as team members carry on several conversations on several topics simultaneously. Spoiler alert, you may find yourself on the brink of tears before the final curtain.

Hannah Iris Woosley puts on a magnificent performance as player number 2, an optimistic and good-natured team member whose smile lights up the stage. Her character is so positive that at times it is hard to not devote your attention to her, when there is so much more happening on stage. Woosley is a junior undergraduate at UMKC and is making her debut at the Unicorn Theatre.

Molliann McCulley returns to the Unicorn for the sixth time, after being seen in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, HEATHERS and DISTRACTED. She gives a sparkling performance as the humorous wise cracking number 13. McCulley demonstrates a fabulous sense of timing causing the theater to erupt in laughter.

Laureen Moore gives the strongest performance of the night as number 46, the new girl on the team who is awkward yet puts out a degree of confidence. She becomes even more awkward as she tries to be accepted as one of the team. From the moment she walks on to the stage as the newest team member to when she becomes a star player, she brings her character to life with a very real tone. Moore is a senior at UMKC, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Theatre Performance.

Chioma Anyanwu returns to the Unicorn stage for another all-female cast adventure as number 25, the captain of the team. She gives a good performance, which at times seemed forced. Other cast members include Emillie Leia Karas, Hannah Elizabeth Freeman, Chelsea Kinser, Un Joo Christopher, Yetunde Felix-Ukwu and Carla Noack as the soccer mom

The Unicorn Theatre presentation of THE WOLVES is a co-production with the UMKC Department of Theatre and was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play runs through December 30, with performances on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Performances on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are "Pay What U Can", because the Unicorn believes art is for everyone.

Purchase tickets by calling 816-531-PLAY Ext. 10 or online at www.UnicornTheatre.org.

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