Paul Elliott’s play sees Mary, one of the bridge partners inconveniently die, but this does not stop the girls carrying on with their weekly bridge night at Connie’s house.
The laugh-out-loud, more than a touch black comedy starts from the moment that her ashes suddenly arrive from the funeral home. Connie, Leona and Millie, three southern ladies from Birmingham in the US, take on a new lease on life after Mary’s demise, and follow her advice that they ought to ‘exit laughing’.
If you enjoyed television’s GOLDEN GIRLS, then this play will have plenty of appeal. The alcohol fueled evening progresses, with more and more risqué dialogue. From beyond the grave, the recently departed Mary has a lot to say to her surviving friends.
The very caustic Mary arranges for a parcel of goodies to arrive at the weekly bridge night. The girls play and four-handed bridge with the fourth player, Mary’s urn. The police arrive and comic mayhem ensues. These women have entered the second half of their lives, with strange but quirky personalities, and very zingy one-liners.
Kathy Goddard plays the very responsible mother Connie.
Danica Taylor is Rachel, Connie’s uptight daughter, who has been stood up for a first date by a college classmate that she fancies. Rachel reminds her mother that she is not supposed to be having any fun, but her mother quickly learns how to enjoy life, when Bobby, a surprise visitor, played by Jack Stout, gets everyone together, to party like there is no tomorrow.
Allanah Jarman plays Leona, the fake blonde alcoholic hairdresser who chooses relationships with married men to avoid being in a committed relationship.
Val Farrow is the very wacky Millie who spends most of her life in a bit of a fog, regularly misunderstanding people and situations. You are going to find it hard to believe her level of misunderstanding about such things as oral sex! You will also see see a brand new use for kitty litter.
Director Jennifer Gilchrist ensures that the balance is maintained between the needs of the dialogue and the play’s inherent comedy.
Jim Searle’s colourful, detailed set, depicting Connie’s house, works well with a clear delineation of the time period and allows plenty of room for the cast to work in.
EXIT LAUGHING is recommended as a fun filled, laugh out loud night of comedy. Written by Paul Elliott and directed by Jennifer Gilchrist EXIT LAUGHING is playing the Guild Theatre, 4 Walz Street, corner 87 Railway Street, Rockdale, NSW until Saturday 12th March 2016. Duration 110 minutes, including one interval.
