BWW Reviews: Ross' OF GOOD STOCK, Three Sisters in Cape Cod

The eldest Stockton sister in Melissa Ross' funny and emotionally engaging Of Good Stock may have a few qualms about what the title suggests about her gene pool as she approaches her 41st birthday with dark humor about having officially outlived her cancer-stricken mother, just as her own treatments have begun.

Marking the occasion with weekend visits from her two sisters, tension is unavoidable at the beautiful Cape Cod cottage where the three of them grew up. Big sister Jess (Jennifer Mudge) was given sole ownership of the home when their father, a highly noted Pulitzer-winning novelist, passed on. She also manages his estate and habitually passes on offers for Hollywood adaptations of his books, which would certainly benefit all them financially.

Mudge is wonderfully touching in portraying a smart and once-vibrant woman who seems more intent on achieving closures as painlessly as possible instead of conquering her situation and going forward with her life. That closure includes becoming physically distant from her supportive husband, Fred (excellent Kelly AuCoin). Ross' opening scene reveals a couple with a terrific dynamic, hinting at the opening stages of its crumbling.

Snitty bohemian Celia (Heather Lind) brings along her new backwoods beau, Hunter (Nate Miller), who seems like a nice-enough guy, but Jess is alarmed to find out the life changes her youngest sister is willing to make for him after only a short time together.

Ditzy, self-centered middle sister, Amy (Alicia Silverstone), doesn't exactly bottle up feelings as she prepares for her upcoming wedding, but despite their public displays of affection, her preppie fiancé Josh (Greg Keller) isn't fully capable of dealing with his bride-to-be's emotional extremes.

While the three sisters work out issues that have been simmering most of their lives, the experienced Fred does his best to keep the guys from being scorched by the fireworks.

While light on plot, the playwright keeps twists and turns coming at a steady pace, and the cerebrally hip dialogue is consistently entertaining. Designer Santo Loquasto places several locations on a rotating carousel, allowing director Lynn Meadow's crisp production to glide easily from scene to scene.

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