Hamza Zaman- Guest Editor
"Party Face" written by Isobel Mahon and directed by Amanda Bearse is
a comedy on surface and form but runs much deeper. It has many light
hearted moments that elicit chuckles and sometimes even uproarious
laughter. The house was brought alive many times with these witty
turns of phrases and dynamic performances by the cast. Starring
Hayley Mills, Klea Blackhurst, Alison Cimmet, Cina Costigan Brenda
Meaney and Allison Jean White it was most definitely a "ladies night"
type of party. Not that any man should hesitate to join the fun! It
was titillating to watch the women throw daggers and open up as one
can only do with close friends and family. All the actresses brought
their A-game and I felt like a fly-on-the-wall watching all the laughs
and drama go down.
For drama there was. Albeit billed as a comedy the premise that one
of the women had had a mental breakdown given some marital
difficulties left plenty of room for vivid and serious situations that
lent nicely to some dark humor. Of course the love was present as
well and the portrait of a group of women with (mostly) good
intentions trying to support each other through tough times strummed
the heartstrings deftly. While the biggest applause of the night went
to Haley Mills - an Academy Award winner while she was still a child -
a special mention must be made for the Scenic Designer Jeff Ridenour
for an amazing set. I was absolutely blown away by the practical
features (a fully working sink for one) and tastefully balanced stage.
A great night at the theater if one wants their laughter with a little
drama thrown in to keep things lively. You won't be disappointed as a
deftly played ensemble commands the beautifully rendered stage.