BWW Reviews: CONFESSIONS: MARRYING GEORGE CLOONEY Is a Great Time at CAP21

CAP21 Theatre Company presents the world premiere of MARRYING GEORGE CLOONEY: CONFESSIONS FROM A MIDLIFE CRISIS.    Based on a memoir by Amy Ferris, this new play by Amy and Ken Ferris along with Krista Lyons, officially opened March 1 at the CAP21 Black Box Theater (18 West 18th Street). Frank Ventura, Executive Artistic Director and co-founder of CAP21 directs. 

MARRYING GEORGE CLOONEY: CONFESSIONS FROM A MIDLIFE CRISIS is a sharp-witted new play about three women wide-awake at 3 a.m.  Facing the dirtiest secret known to our sex, menopause, this sorority trades prescription drugs online, expresses their passions probably for the first time out loud, “googles” old boyfriends and tries to piece together why their first female relationships (i.e. their mothers) went so very wrong.  The Second Wave feminist movement is growing older.  Through MARRYING GEORGE CLOONEY: CONFESSIONS FROM A MIDLIFE CRISIS, they are forced to face it. 

The strongest aspect of MARRYING GEORGE CLOONEY: CONFESSIONS FROM A MIDLIFE CRISIS is the writing.  Amy and Ken Ferris along with Krista Lyons did an incredible job of creating three strong women who we empathize with but for whom we never feel sorry. As strong as this piece is, it would never be more than words on the page without a dynamic cast. This Equity Showcase features the ensemble cast of Meghan Duffy (GREASE), Eliza Ventura (KILLING LOUISE) and three-time Emmy nominee Colleen Zenk (AS THE WORLD TURNS).  Each of these women gives depth and individuality to the three main characters (merely named Woman 1, 2 and 3).  Director Frank Ventura deserves distinction for literally not getting in the way and just letting these three accomplished women do what they do best.

The production’s set was designed by Jon Knust with lighting by Clark Gaesser.  They made an interesting a choice to create a unique world where we are essentially viewing these women through their computers.  In someway, their computers are these women’s most intimate companions and the CAP21 space is pretty intimate.  Through their designs, Knust and Gaesser did a significant job of cutting down the space further and really getting the audience up in these women’s business. Costumes are by Julia Broer.  Broer did a great job of dressing Woman 1, 2 and 3 in archetypical fashion, so when they do open up and we do invest in them, we as the audience feel we like we know these women from our own life.

MARRYING GEORGE CLOONEY: CONFESSIONS FROM A MIDLIFE CRISIS does not follow the model of the typical “woman in mid-life crisis” play.  Although at the top, Woman 1, 2 and 3 seem to be archetypes of the ageing woman, the play takes a turn and we realize that these are strong women who apologize for and regret nothing.  If I were to be left wanting anything, I would say the show could have seriously used an intermission. 

As mentioned before, MARRYING GEORGE CLOONEY: CONFESSIONS FROM A MIDLIFE CRISIS is an Equity Approved Showcase. It is a limited run, running now through March 24. Tickets are $18 and are available through OvationTix or online at www.cap21.org.