BWW Preview: WOMEN IN JEOPARDY - Ensemble's Pseudo Super-Sleuths

This week, Ensemble opens the west coast premier of Wendy MacLeod's new play, Women in Jeopardy. Producing Women in Jeopardy is an exciting opportunity for Ensemble to host one of the nascent stages of the play's evolving identity. MacLeod's play premiered earlier in 2015, and has, so far, received praise for productions in Rochester and Boston.

Two women, Mary and Jo, meet their friend Liz's new boyfriend. It's clear to Mary and Jo that Liz's gentleman caller is actually a deranged murderer, but they're not sure how to break the news to Liz, who seems so happy to have found love. Thus the set-up: Mary and Jo begin an aggressive campaign to discover whether Liz's disturbing new lover is sociopathic or simply socially unrefined. With a cast of quirky and engaging characters, Women in Jeopardy presents a comedic, over-the-top look at the challenges of navigating the dating scene--and the inevitable inelegance of merging new love and old friends. Wendy MacLeod's concept of Mary and Jo as Liz's voice of reason rings amusing because of their obviously unreasonable approach to the situation; they become pseudo-sleuths instead of having a frank conversation with Liz about her terrible taste in men. Yet, the fair point remains: sometimes you actually do meet a psycho on Tinder; it's helpful to have friends who notice that something is a little "off" about the dentist who keeps joking about his missing hygienist.

Directed by Bart DeLorenzo. Featuring DeeDee Rescher, Annabelle Gurwitch, Matthew Grondin, Sophie Ullett, Bill Salyers, and Ensemble regular Heather Ayers, last seen as the lively Mrs. Lovett in ETC's production of Sweeney Todd.

Ensemble Theatre Presents:

Women in Jeopardy
by Wendy MacLeod