Theater Review
Show Title = Star Spangled Girl
Genre = Comedic Play
Theater/City = Broadway West / Fremont
Production Dates = July 20 – August 13
Ticket Prices = $15 - $23
Rating = 4 Golden Bridges
Reviewed By = Don Moschella
Comments
Another light-hearted Neil Simon comedy has surfaced at the Broadway West Theatre in Fremont!
This community theater production sports a cast of three local stage performers (Brad Monk as Andy Hobart, Greg Small as Norman Cornell, and Melinda Marks as Sophie Rauschmeyer) that deliver typical Simon-type biting lines of quick wit and not-so-subtle jabs at our country's condition during the '60s.
The two-act play opens as a fledgling magazine editor (Hobart) and his lead writer (Cornell) argue over deadlines that need to be met within three days, but Cornell has, for some reason, lost his creative ability and cannot seem to put thoughts to the typewriter. Adding to the frustration is the constant badgering of the landlord wanting past-due rent, for which Cornell must contrive humorous stall tactics and submit to personal favors to keep the "old lady" from evicting them from their bare-bones office. As the play develops, Hobart suggests that his writer take some time and relax so that the words might reach the typewriter. That idea is put on hold when the new tenant next door (Sophie) arrives and infects Cornell's ability to complete his task which puts Andy and Sophie in continuous argument and finger-pointing. Cornell has now found the woman of his dreams and his obsession with her causes child-like methods of pursuit.
This comedic version of a love triangle (a goofy fatal attraction at best) eventually finds Sophie admitting that she unexplainably has an attraction for Andy and, against all her reasoning, would like to know if he would like to pursue her. The audience is treated to some passionate embraces laced with muted warnings as to why the relationship won't work...or can it? The uncomfortable dilemma has you anticipating the entrance of Cornell at the "wrong" time; Neil Simon has a knack for building humor and tension simultaneously.
The cast does a fine job of bringing the audience into the individual situations of the characters which eventually sets up the response for the ironic turn of events. It was apparent that each member was comfortable with a bit of ad lib while adhering to the script in principle. A few mistakes in lines and cues, but, overall, the audience was totally engaged and expressive throughout the entire performance.
This community theater production sports a cast of three local stage performers (Brad Monk as Andy Hobart, Greg Small as Norman Cornell, and Melinda Marks as Sophie Rauschmeyer) that deliver typical Simon-type biting lines of quick wit and not-so-subtle jabs at our country's condition during the '60s.
The two-act play opens as a fledgling magazine editor (Hobart) and his lead writer (Cornell) argue over deadlines that need to be met within three days, but Cornell has, for some reason, lost his creative ability and cannot seem to put thoughts to the typewriter. Adding to the frustration is the constant badgering of the landlord wanting past-due rent, for which Cornell must contrive humorous stall tactics and submit to personal favors to keep the "old lady" from evicting them from their bare-bones office. As the play develops, Hobart suggests that his writer take some time and relax so that the words might reach the typewriter. That idea is put on hold when the new tenant next door (Sophie) arrives and infects Cornell's ability to complete his task which puts Andy and Sophie in continuous argument and finger-pointing. Cornell has now found the woman of his dreams and his obsession with her causes child-like methods of pursuit.
This comedic version of a love triangle (a goofy fatal attraction at best) eventually finds Sophie admitting that she unexplainably has an attraction for Andy and, against all her reasoning, would like to know if he would like to pursue her. The audience is treated to some passionate embraces laced with muted warnings as to why the relationship won't work...or can it? The uncomfortable dilemma has you anticipating the entrance of Cornell at the "wrong" time; Neil Simon has a knack for building humor and tension simultaneously.
The cast does a fine job of bringing the audience into the individual situations of the characters which eventually sets up the response for the ironic turn of events. It was apparent that each member was comfortable with a bit of ad lib while adhering to the script in principle. A few mistakes in lines and cues, but, overall, the audience was totally engaged and expressive throughout the entire performance.
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