'Divorce' Fast-Paced and Full of Hilarity
By Diane Windeler
San Antonio Express-News
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In the 15 years since her divorce, Eleanor Bander has spent virtually all of her considerable fortune on various charities in her hometown of Savannah, Ga. Now, she has hatched a plot to snare and remarry her former husband, who has become a wealthy and successful businessman. The complications of her deviousness form the basis of Jennifer Jarrett's madcap "Divorce Southern Style," now playing at the Steven Stoli Playhouse. Director Larry Schwartz has assembled a strong, funny cast that seems to thrive on his dizzy yet efficient pacing. Wearing a fluffy blond wig, Sandy Schwartz is hilarious as middle-aged Eleanor, who confides to her booze-loving friend, Elma Blue (Jonna Rosas), that gravity has attacked: "I sit at the mirror and watch my face fall." Rosas is perfectly cast as a cynical, thrice-divorced novelist given to tossing offhanded zingers. |
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Eleanor
sets her plan in motion by phoning ex-hubby Walter (Bill Martin) in New
York and saying he must come to Savannah right away. When he jumps to
the conclusion that daughter Elizabeth (pert Keisha McFerrin) is pregnant,
Eleanor allows him to think so and soon he is at her door.
The subplot is Elizabeth's reluctance to actually walk down the aisle; she loves handsome, patient Vince (Erik Romero), but has made their engagement an on-and-off thing for years.
Once Walter learns the truth, Eleanor's next ploy is to throw him a huge birthday party. She'll use all her feminine wiles to trap him. Of course, it all backfires, especially when they both recognize why they divorced in the first place.
Before then, however, there are some riotous second-act scenes involving Eleanor and Elma Blue with facial hair-removal strips, mudpacks and the like. Things are further complicated by the presence of Walter's lady friend, Gretchen (Mona Klein), who was an old nemesis of Eleanor, and a comically lecherous married optometrist (Joe DeMott).
The comedy has an appealing, laugh-filled script, solid direction and a cast that is clearly having fun. You will, too.