Sexy Laundry
From San Francisco B Street Theatre's Production
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Victoria Playhouse:
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Michele Riml:
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Sexy Laundry: Victoria Playhouse Petrolia
by Brian Hay
'Sexy Laundry', by Michele Riml, is a work that's entirely character driven. Everything that happens, from moments of tenderness to the segments of pure physical comedy works for the play for one reason; they help to develop the characters of the people involved. The people themselves could be anyone you would meet in everyday life. They have the strengths and insecurities that plague everyone. The conversations between them range between hilarious and poignant. More importantly, they're dialogues that individuals from an array of age groups can relate to. All it needs is a cast and crew that can do justice to it.
The group from the Victoria Playhouse Professional Summer Season did just that. Ralph Small and Mary Long were tremendous in the roles of 'Henry' and 'Alice Lane'. Small portrayed 'Henry' as an individual living in an array of emotional states. His moments as an insensitive clod were hilarious. His portrayal of the man's tenderness and heartfelt caring for his wife were deeply moving. His handling of sight gags was superb. It's safe to say there probably wasn't a man in the audience who couldn't relate to them.
Mary Long gave a vivacious performance as the passionate (and occasionally needy) 'Alice'. Her portrayal of the woman as a loving companion and shrewd observer who alternates between striving to move ahead and falling prey to her own insecurities was brilliant. She turned the emotional corners demanded by the material on dimes. She made the character breathe. The on stage chemistry between the two was fabulous. They've worked together many times and it shows. They interacted as easily on stage as any couple with many years behind them would in life.
Director David Nairn drew excellent work from the people around him. The performances he got from the actors were exuberant but restrained. The movement on stage kept the action flowing smoothly. His placement of the characters was good. Their on stage dynamic was strong without making their dialogue inaudible. Stage Manager Lani Martel insured that the shift between scenes flowed seamlessly as the story developed.
The costumes were perfect. The outfits Julie McGill and Nancy Turner picked for 'Henry' and 'Alice' to wear made them look 'ordinary. 'Henry's' boxers and T-shirt make him look like a middle-aged guy past feeling like he needs to look sexy. The pajamas worn by 'Alice' are outrageous enough to suggest an undercurrent of daring but her slippers serve as reminder that she enjoys the comfort she's grown accustomed to through the years. The outfits they don as the play closes portray the free spirit under the conservative shell and the passionate extrovert daring to rise to the surface. Like the sets they never fall into states of excess or exaggeration.
The 'room' Jackie Chau (Set Designer) came up with worked well in all areas. It emphasized the fact that the hotel was supposed to be chic. The large bed (probably a King Size beast) situated in the middle of the set declared it to be a 'love nest'. The glossy look of the linens and the fixtures made it look expensive enough to cater to those who were older or well heeled. The chutes of bamboo in the oversized container suggested an artificial push to be trendy. The panels around the edges of the room suggested cheaply laid decor meant to look expensive.
The lighting designs were very effective. Gavin McDonald utilized warm colours in order to accentuate the interaction between the protagonists while cool ones followed their emotional and psychological states. The darker hues and deeper contrasts were particularly effective in suggesting passions and feelings that lay just below the surface. Both themes kept the characters moving through their respective emotional states nicely. They also complimented the colour scheme of the set well.
'Sexy Laundry' is an excellent production on all fronts. It's moving, easy to relate to, genuinely funny, and often hilarious. It's well worth taking the time to see.
'Sexy Laundry' runs at the Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia from June 9, 2009 through to June 27, 2009. This review pertains to the performance that took place at 8:00 P.M. on Saturday June 20, 2009.
