Review: MAYTAG VIRGIN at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

An exploration of human connection, trust, and grief, this regional premiere runs at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through June 18th, 2023.

By: Jun. 03, 2023
Review: MAYTAG VIRGIN at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

A meet cute over pie and Diet Coke. A Catholic Church birdhouse gifted by a Baptist. Two methods of drying laundry. These are some of the elements that make up playwright Audrey Cefaly’s Maytag Virgin, a dramedy play making its regional premiere at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. This minimalist story is anything but dull, with countless moments of laughter and seriousness. A love story at its core, director Bridget Leak uses a great deal of nuance to form the connection of its two characters as they navigate the slow burn of attraction, grief, and life itself.

Maggie Lou Rader and Ryan Wesley Gilreath make up the two-person cast, and they handle the work with a great sense of verisimilitude, creating natural characters with strong chemistry. When Lizzie Nash (Rader) first meets her new neighbor Jack Key (Gilreath), sparks fly over their differences, yet over time they grow close to each other and solidify respect for one another. The show itself feels like a classic romantic comedy with many tropes, such as crushing on the girl next door, an almost kiss, forced proximity, and drunken confessions. These all create a lightheartedness, making its audience want to laugh and smile as they bear witness to newfound love. However, their dramatic moments nicely balance out to resemble what life is truly like, ultimately creating tension and depth and even slight discomfort as one becomes invested and falls into the story.

Jack, or as Lizzie tends to call him, Mr. Key, takes a quiet approach to his neighbor, almost appearing stoic and enigmatic at first. But he is an observer, always taking note and listening to Lizzie in his own way. A widower of two years, he seems more adjusted to his new life in the fictional Alabama town where they reside, but deep down the emotions are bottled up. Meanwhile, Lizzie babbles and rambles in her sweet but seemingly nervous way. A recent widow, she’s still adjusting to life without her husband. She has a way of keeping secrets, which she carefully guards until a fateful night when truth comes loose. When these two grow closer over the seasons, something special develops, and the audience is rewarded with a satisfying ending. 

A fascinating theme in Maytag Virgin involves parallel lives. While Jack and Lizzie form their own relationship, they find letters from the previous deceased owner of Jack’s house made out to his wife. As they delve into the history behind them, they begin to recognize their own parallel hearts learning through lost love, both from their own and from those from the past. The dichotomy of character within this show is also heavily present. This refers to the literal cast as well as in metaphorical ways through other factors, including the set and the well placed technical details. From the differences in their backgrounds to mismatching backyards, they really prove that opposites attract.

Maytag Virgin runs through June 18th, 2023. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ensemblecincinnati.org.




RELATED STORIES - Cincinnati

1
VIDEO: Get A First Look At SANCTUARY CITY at CincyPlay Photo
VIDEO: Get A First Look At SANCTUARY CITY at CincyPlay

Get a first look at CincyPlay's production of Sanctuary City, now on stage through October 22nd.

2
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Appoints Five New Musicians as it Heads into the 2023-24 Sea Photo
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Appoints Five New Musicians as it Heads into the 2023-24 Season

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) announced the appointment of five new full-time musicians to the Orchestra roster for the 2023-24 season. Learn more about the new appointments here!

3
Grammy-Nominated Music Sensation Celtic Woman Brings 20th Anniversary Tour to the Aronoff  Photo
Grammy-Nominated Music Sensation Celtic Woman Brings 20th Anniversary Tour to the Aronoff Center, April 19

On the heels of the successful “Postcards From Ireland,” Celtic Woman will carry on its legacy of uplifting performances packed with breath-taking harmonies and instrumental virtuosity.

4
Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto Will Lend His Voice to The Childrens Theatre Of Cincinnatis THE Photo
Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto Will Lend His Voice to The Children's Theatre Of Cincinnati's THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Cincinnati Reds First Baseman Joey Votto will lend his voice to the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati's upcoming production of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: YOUTH EDITION.

From This Author - Ana-Brit Asplen

Ana-Brit Asplen, 25, is a 2019 Theatre Arts graduate from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She moved to the Cincinnati area in early 2022 and has been seeing as many shows as possible in every dir... Ana-Brit Asplen">(read more about this author)

Videos


#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Disney’s Finding Nemo JR.
The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati (4/20-4/29)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# SIX (Boleyn Tour)
Aronoff Center (4/23-5/05)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# NARNIA The Musical
The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati (12/09-12/18)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) (11/19-11/19)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Prom
Cincinnati Music Theatre (11/03-11/11)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) (11/08-11/12)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Peter Pan (Non-Equity)
Aronoff Center (3/12-3/24)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Let The Right One In
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) (10/19-10/28)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition
The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati (10/14-10/23)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Clue
Aronoff Center (5/14-5/19)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You