Skip to main content Skip to footer site map
Review: LEADING LADIES at Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg

Review: LEADING LADIES at Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg

Leading Ladies takes the stage through February 12th.

Ken Ludwig's rollicking comedy Leading Ladies has been bringing the laughs to audiences since its first production in 2004. The show is set in the 1950s in York, PA, where two struggling Shakespearean actors from England, Leo Clark and Jack Gable, engage in a con to wheedle an inheritance out of Florence and her niece, Meg. The show relies on a high-energy cast talented in delivering quick repartee. The cast of Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg's production does not disappoint. Directed by Aaron Booth, with assistant director Slayter Booth and stage manager Lori Haagen, Leading Ladies takes the stage through February 12th.

The set, designed by Aaron Booth and Bobby Zaccano and constructed by Mandi Hurley and Bobby Zaccano, is beautiful and makes good use of the small space. Set changes (executed by stage crew Rory Hicks and Jax Lindenberger) and costume quick-changes (facilitated by Gaye Hicks) were performed smoothly so that the flow of the action was never interrupted.

The cast features Logan Velez as Butch, Anthony Ariano as Doctor Myers, Anne Marino Einhorn as Florence, Andy Isaacs as Duncan, Annie Hart as Audrey, Zeyad Nosaer as Jack/Stephanie, Michael Griesemer as Leo/Maxine, and Sunny Almeyda as Meg. While there were some obvious opening night jitters, resulting in some line mix-ups, the overall production is well-directed and performed, making it easy to ignore any flaws.

Velez gives a solid performance as Butch, eliciting gales of laughter as the character attempts to overcome his stage-fright during a rehearsal under the direction of Leo Clark. Ariano delivers the doctor's one-liners with perfect comedic timing, and the interactions between Ariano and Nosaer's Stephanie are hysterical. Anne Marino Einhorn is delightful as the wealthy matriarch Florence. Her stage presence brings liveliness to the scene, and her back and forth with Ariano's Doctor Myers displays a wonderful talent for verbal sparring. While the age difference between Duncan (played by Andy Isaacs) and Meg (played by Sunny Almeyda) is too large to be believable (even given the fact that Duncan was a friend of Meg's parents), Isaacs does a nice job portraying the stodgy, straight-laced, old-fashioned minister.

Annie Hart's performance as Audrey is simply wonderful. Hart has tremendous energy on the stage, and her interactions with the other actors bring authenticity to the scene. Sunny Almeyda displays excellent emotional range in her performance as Meg, using her facial expressions to draw the audience in. While the whole cast gives a truly terrific performance, Michael Griesemer and Zeyad Nosaer steal the show as Leo/Maxine and Jack/Stephanie. These two actors work well together, and they each give tremendous performances with difficult roles, altering their posture, body language, and facial expressions as they go from playing Leo and Jack to playing Leo as Maxine and Jack as Stephanie.

This production of Leading Ladies is one of the funniest this reviewer has seen. The intimate theatre at Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg puts the audience right in the middle of the action. Anyone who needs a good laugh should get their tickets for Leading Ladies before it's too late. Visit www.ltmpa.com for more information!



Peter Fogels TIL DEATH DO US PART... YOU FIRST! Comes To Ritz Center For The Performing Ar Photo
On a balmy Saturday night in Florida, Academy Award nominee and Broadway legend Chazz Palminteri (A Bronx Tale, Modern Family, Godfather of Harlem) attended a performance of Comedian/Playwright Peter Fogel's hilarious auto-biographical solo show., 'Til Death Do Us Part... You First!'

Fulton Theatre Presents WHOS AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Photo
The Fulton Theatre opens Edward Albee's 1962 American classic Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Thursday, March 23, 2023. This is the third production in this season's Ellen Arnold Groff Studio Series held in the 4th floor Tell Studio Theatre.

Spring on the SouthSide Returns with Family Health & Wellness on the Greenway Photo
Grab your bike and put on your sneakers.  Spring on the SouthSide (formerly known as Spring on 4th) returns Saturday, April 22 from 1-4 PM after a two year long hiatus as a brand new community festival, free to attend for all ages.

Gamut Theatres Young Acting Company and Rasika School of Dance to Present THE JUNGLE BOOK Photo
Opening March 31, The Jungle Book will debut at Gamut Theatre for one weekend only! After the success of last year's production of Panchatantra Tales, Gamut's Young Acting Company will partner again with Rasika School of Dance to present this classic story. This play is co-directed by Gamut's Executive Director, Melissa Nicholson, and Rasika's Founder and Artistic Director, Rachita Menon Nambiar. The show is performed by students ages 7-18, dancers and actors alike. 


From This Author - Andrea Stephenson

Andrea Stephenson’s love of music and theatre was nurtured by her parents. She started performing as a singer and actor in elementary school, and her passion for the performing arts grew thro... (read more about this author)


Review: ANNE & EMMETT at Open Stage And Sankofa African American Theatre CompanyReview: ANNE & EMMETT at Open Stage And Sankofa African American Theatre Company
March 18, 2023

Each actor in this production brings passion, commitment, and authenticity to the stage. The raw emotions expressed by the actors in these scenes are heart-breaking and haunting. It is an important call to action to acknowledge the past so that we may move into a more hopeful and just future.

Review: PIPPIN at Little Theatre Of MechanicsburgReview: PIPPIN at Little Theatre Of Mechanicsburg
March 12, 2023

With beautiful music, dancing, and magic, and a thought-provoking story, Pippin is a whirlwind that captures the imagination. Pippin is a challenging show, but the cast at Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg approaches the challenge with an enthusiasm that is infectious.

Review: THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY At Oyster Mill PlayhouseReview: THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY At Oyster Mill Playhouse
March 10, 2023

The cast of The Savannah Sipping Society at Oyster Mill Playhouse really pulls together to create a funny, emotional, authentic glimpse into the lives of four women seeking to make their way through the transitions of life and discovering that friends make the journey worthwhile.

Review: THISTLE & SALT: THE IRELAND OF J.M. SYNGE at Gamut Theatre Group And Narçisse Theatre CompanyReview: THISTLE & SALT: THE IRELAND OF J.M. SYNGE at Gamut Theatre Group And Narçisse Theatre Company
March 7, 2023

Thistle & Salt is a powerful introduction to the works of J. M. Synge and an emotional glimpse into the difficult realities of life in Ireland in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Directed by FL Henley, Jr., Thistle & Salt is an emotional and thought-provoking production.

Review: LOVE, LIES & THE LOTTERY at Hanover Little TheatreReview: LOVE, LIES & THE LOTTERY at Hanover Little Theatre
March 5, 2023

The entire cast presents a fast-paced, energetic, and hilarious performance of Love, Lies & the Lottery at Hanover Little Theatre. If you’re looking for an engaging, fun evening with tons of laughter, visit www.hanoverlittletheatre.com!