THEATER REVIEW: Church Basement Ladies

It is always sad when the Millbrook Playhouse season comes to a close, but CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES was a good closer. (You may want to think Nunsense for Lutherans).

Directed by Marc de la Concha, CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES introduced us to  Vivian, Mavis and Karin, three women who have been the heart of every meal served at the small Lutheran church where the traditional foods are bland and covered with butter. Joined by Karin’s college age daughter, Signe, the ladies take us through a year in the basement kitchen.

Jennifer Amber carried the role of Vivian, the oldest and most traditional of the ladies, convincingly. Jennifer does “disapproving” very well. Mavis was played by Shannon Agnew with great enthusiasm. Shannon was more than capable of the physical comedy required. Meghan McCormick showed us a different side of her talent as Karin, the mother and peacemaker of the trio. After her sophisticated wife in Don’t Dress for Dinner, we were not expecting “niceness”.

I was glad that Kate Keating had a chance to do more than be sweet as the young Signe. Her attempts at teaching the ladies to sing “A New Song” were polite, but her bridal fears gave the actress a chance to show a depth beyond young and sweet. Patrick Bolger as Pastor Gunderson held the group together well, in spite of his new wife trying to introduce the traditional ladies to new fangled dishes like lasagne.

The best part of the evening was the harmony provided by the cast. The music was new to me, but as a long time Lutheran I felt familiar with it. It was as if the Andrew Sisters decided to sing from our old blue hymnal. Each actor had a good voice and had a chance to prove it, but they were at their best in close harmony.

I also loved the little bits of business especially as provided by Shannon Agnew. Her heat flash was just plain funny and I loved the recurring bit of her opening the cellar door.

CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES has been a sell out so the board at Millbrook has been kind enough to add several encore performances. It is a fun evening. There is also a reliable rumor that Miss Abigail with her advice on dating, mating and marriage (and other good stuff) will be returning in September. THAT you do not want to miss. ( I already have my tickets to see it again!). 

Call 570 748 8083 or check their website, www.MillbrookPlayhouse.org for more information. Maybe you will get lucky. This has been the best, most full-of-talent season that I have seen in the fifty years that I have been going to Millbrook Playhouse. And, believe me, there has been a lot of talent grace the boards at Millbrook.