BWW Reviews: 7 REDNECK CHEERLEADERS - A Doomed Play Within an Unbalanced, Top-Heavy Pyramid of a Play

7 Redneck Cheerleaders/written by Louis Douglas Jacobs /directed by David Fofi/Lillian Theatre /thru March 8, 2015

With the combined credits and awards of the playwright Louis Douglas Jacobs and director David Fofi, one would expect a particularly brilliant production of the critically -acclaimed revival 7 Redneck Cheerleaders. But even with a very game, committed cast of obviously talented performers, the almost two-hour 2005 piece unfortunately never gels. 7 Redneck Cheerleaders depicts first time playwright/director Ben's weak attempt mounting his first play Gunrack. Dangerous to have the actors speaking scripted lines calling out various weakness of the script of Gunrack, the play within the play.

Each actor of the cast (of the alternating actors that I saw) had their moments to shine on stage. John Salandria as actor Patrick playing the role of Young in Gunrack and Etienne Eckert as actress Victoria playing Young's mother Liz fared the best in their totally naturalistic, dramatic scenes. LeShay Tomlinson, as the always high, stoned or drunk lesbian actress Rose, takes command of her stage time with her fun over-the-top, playing-to-the-rafters neighbor, the whore slut Sheila. As bad actor/producer Brad, James Pippi dominates the stage as he sometimes should be. Micah Cohen's completely believable as the ball-less, uninteresting milquetoast of a novice playwright/director Ben. Whitney Fortmueller's actress Nikki's totally charming in her virginal seduction of fellow cheerleader Young. Kate Huffman essays actress Pfeiffer who overacts and continually screams her lines as Barb. Most everyone in the cast seem to get their individual chances to overact and chew the scenery, at many times not understandably or logically. Playwright Jacobs wisely underplays his role as actor Howard playing Ted.

Actually, the all-too-brief cheerleading routine performed by all at their curtain call gave this production its needed pop. Props to choreographer Melissa Miles.

On a theatre housekeeping note: Interesting to have some of the alternate actors in the audience talking amongst themselves during the play, then frequently leading the intended laughing response for each 'laugh' line. Like a laugh track in a studio taping. I find the former disrespectful to their fellow actors and the latter a bit annoying. Rah! Rah!

www.plays411.com/redneck