Miss Witherspoon - ACT

Who knew death could be so hilarious? Who knew it could be so frequent, either?

Miss Witherspoon deals with the ideas of the afterlife from an extreme array of philosophical and religious perspectives as well as the comedic genius of writer Christopher Durang. This production is one of the most tight-knit creations I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s an extremely complicated script and an even more complicated and convoluted plot. However, the actors and designers met every single challenge of every aspect.

Director M. Burke Walker has created an art piece worthy of envy. The way in which this production comes together and never falters is incredible. Along with the design team and the actors, Walker has used every resource of artistic ability to create an absolutely stunning show. Bill Forrester’s set design is outrageously clever and precise. The use of trap space and fly space and the absence of hiding space develop a world in which the audience can easily get lost. Frances Kenny’s costumes are also a spectacle to see. Though one may not realize it by the end of the show, the costumes are extremely fitting, exact and hilarious. The lighting design, too, by Rick Paulsen, is a world of wonderment. The fades and lifts mirror the exact feelings of the play and the audience remarkably well.

There is no way that one actor can be singled out from this cast as more memorable than another. Each and every character is as vibrant and full of life as the next and each next is more vibrant than the last. However, the load that Anne Allgood (Veronica) and Christine Calfas (Maryamma) carry is unbelievable. Their exactitude and skill is a gift that can, as with the rest of the show, easily be envied.

For all intents and purposes, this is easily one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. I apologize that I am posting this so late in the run. However, if you can see it before it’s close on Sunday, please do!