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EMA Review: Four Old Broads **** Scrumptious


By Paul Atreides

Author, Playwright, and Theatre Critic at EatMoreArtVegas.com

 

They’re baa-aack! The ladies from last season’s Four Old Broads on the High Seas reprise their roles in Four Old Broads, by Leslie Kimbell, and couldn’t be more delightful. Coming off her keyboard first in 2018, this one is overdone in that the final scene sucks a bit of air out of things. But, overall, the dialogue sparkles, and it’s still funny.


While High Seas took them on a cruise to the Bahamas, this one has them planning the trip amid the unfolding mystery of a dastardly nurse who’s taken over the Magnolia Assisted Living Center. And instead of a drag queen, we get an Elvis impersonator.


Wendy Friedman again plays the bawdy, brash Beatrice Shelton to perfection. She’s quick with a comeback line or a physical bump and grind. Denise Morganti’s Eaddy Mae Clayton is as pious as ever, offering up prayers to save the souls of her friends and then asking forgiveness for her own behavior. Terri Nicholas brings such fun to her role of Imogene Fletcher, particularly when she’s stuck in a wheelchair pretending to be incoherent and in a stupor. The whiny Maude Jenkins, who is as blind as a bat without her glasses and hooked on a particular soap opera, gets great treatment by Kristi McKay, especially when she’s bumping into walls and furniture. They’re all fearless onstage, and that’s what it takes to make a broad (no pun intended) comedy like this one successful.


Rounding out the cast are Bill Kitzerow as Sam Smith, the Elvis impersonator who continually throws out a hip; Allison Gerber-Morris plays Ruby Sue Bennett, a nurse’s aide who has her nose stuck in a book instead of paying attention to the elderly goings-on; and Faith Solomon as Pat Jones, the conniving nurse who’s out to steal the place blind.


For the most part, director David Ament has done a commendable job this go-round and has used the entire space well. There are a few missed opportunities that might heighten the comedy: Eaddy Mae might kneel for her first prayer and need help getting up, then start to kneel for the second one and think better of it. Maude, after failing miserably while practicing a bump and grind for a talent show, might give a really clunky tap dance in the ridiculous outfit she chose.


Picking up the cues faster, and thereby the pace, would make this really sizzle. Chalk it up to jitters and not knowing when and how the audience will respond on opening night. But once this cast gels with the laughs and applause, it’ll be a solid production.


Special kudos go to Terri Nicholas for an ad lib that brought the house down and got thunderous applause when a patron’s phone kept going off. That’s truly thinking on one's feet and being in the moment.


Ron Lindblom’s set, coupled with Ginny Adams’ lighting are good, as always. From the sublime to the ridiculous, Julie Horton has done a really great job with the costumes, adding comedic flair.


If you liked last season’s Four Broads, you’ll enjoy this one. It’s snappy, it’s sassy, it’s funny. 

 

What: Four Old Broads

When: 7 p.m. Friday - Saturday

            2 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays through March 22

Where: Las Vegas Little Theatre - Mainstage, 3920 Schiff Drive

Tickets: $20* - $37

702-362-7996

*Students under 18 – call during Box Office hours

Grade:  **** Scrumptious


Producer: Las Vegas Little Theatre; Director: David Ament; Set Design: Ron Lindblom; Lighting Design: Ginny Adams; Costumes: Julie Horton, Bailey Parcells; Stage Manager: Roxi Goldblatt

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