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The curtain opened to a very solid-looking set representing the living room of Ida's house; the arrangement had been well thought out with the actors moving easily around it. The side of the stage was built out slightly to house the "cemetery" - space was tight for the three realistic-looking headstones but it worked. The backdrop of New York was brilliant - I do hope someone has kept it!
The three central characters were long-standing friends who had all lost their husbands in the previous few years; the actresses worked well together and fitted their different characters. The Jewish American accents were well maintained throughout and didn't interfere with the clever dialogue, with its subtle humour. It was a shame several prompts were needed as the pace suffered accordingly.
The sensible Ida (Gill Gordon-Williams) clearly loved her late husband but was feeling ready to try to move on. She displayed her mixed emotions competently and gained the hearts of the audience, willing her on to get her man! Lucille (Paulette Barton) was suitably flamboyant in her newly acquired mink aiming to attract every man in town, who gradually as the plot unfolded demonstrated her more 'desperate' side. Throughout Lucille proclaimed she wanted more but, in a very poignant outburst, she shocked her friends by admitting how much she still missed her late husband, however much he had cheated on her. Chris Hodges was a lovely Doris whose late husband Abe was still very much part of her life; she quickly gained sympathy for her unstinting loyalty to him and (sometimes misplaced) to her friends.
The widower Sam was very convincingly played by Richard Bruce. His tentative courting of Ida was delightful and the pain he felt bringing the overpowering Mildred with him to the umpteenth wedding of a mutual friend was palpable. It was clear that he loved his late wife and one so wanted him to be happy again. Penny Welham was super in the cameo role of Mildred.
The usual bickering between long-standing friends was realistic and the camaraderie when the three were drunk was very entertaining... until the effect started to wear off and "in vino veritas" took over (as it so often does!).
The costuming was appropriate throughout, with the blue "bridesmaids" dresses working particularly well. Credit must go to Lucille for carrying off her 'amended' outfit!
As always, I received a warm welcome at WDC but was disappointed for the Club at the number in the audience on a Friday evening. The Club's efforts deserved better support.
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