BWW Reviews: WHERE THE HELL'S THE BRIDESMAID????? Brings in the Laughs at the Heartland Forum

Where The Hell's The Bridesmaid????? Is currently playing at the Heartland Forum in Crown Center. The very humorous melodrama written and directed by Madeline McCrae is one of many productions showing at the old American Heartland Theatre in conjunction with the KC Fringe Festival. In addition to theater, McCrae is an accomplished photographer and has her works on display at the KC Fringe Festival's Visual Art Show located in Union Station.

Where The Hell's The Bridesmaid????? is zany, slapstick humor that engulfs the audience. The play centers around a bridesmaid who has come up missing before the ceremony begins. The minister who was to perform the ceremony is also missing and one of the guests has to step in to marry the groom and bridezilla. When the bridesmaid is located, a guest who is a police officer (reminiscent of Barney Fife) announces she is dead. What ensues is a comedy of errors involving love, hate, marriage, infidelity, and murder.

Chioma Anyanwu wonderfully portrays the new bride Lucinda Bloomenthal. When we first meet Lucinda, she seems to be a sweet loving woman, and then as the play continues you wonder why anyone would marry such a diva. Anyanwu has appeared at several Kansas City venues including three shows at the Unicorn Theatre.

Daisy Bucket stars as Detective Kacie Bartholomew, who arrives at the wedding to investigate what appears to be a murder. Bucket is hilarious in the role of the inept detective who shares a secret with one of the guests. Bucket appeared for six years as Trampolina with The Kinsey Sicks, playing theaters around the globe.

Agatha Schroeder is a guest at the wedding and is an amateur sleuth, splendidly played by Kelsey Matthias. Her performance adds an extra degree of humor as she wanders around the stage taking notes, pictures, and trying to become an expert witness for the police. Kelsey will appear in September with the Alcott Arts Center production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Justin G. McCoy appears as Lucas Samuels, the groom who by the end of the play may be regretting his choice for his wife. McCoy is excellent in the role as he fights back from the antics of Lucinda. He previously appeared with the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre as Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime.

Where The Hell's The Bridesmaid????? can be seen at the Heartland Forum on Wednesday July 23 and Friday July 25. Purchase tickets at the door or at the KC Fringe Festival website. Photograph provided by Madeline McCrae.

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