BWW Reviews: Bro-tastic MATT & BEN from STAGEright

Hollywood icons Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been the butt of many jokes ever since they burst on the scene after winning the Oscar for writing "Good Will Hunting". And one of the high points of that adoring mockery had to be when Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers took it upon themselves to portray their version of the boys' origin story in their hilarious send up "Matt & Ben". And STAGEright's current production also shows respect for the duo even as it pokes fun at them.

I mean how could these struggling young actors have come up with the emotionally charged and mathematically complex screenplay for "Good Will Hunting" at such a young age? Well one theory (as the play examines) is that while Matt and Ben (Sarah Rose Nottingham and Lauren Nicole Johnson) were working away at adapting a screenplay for "Catcher in the Rye" (and by adapting I mean copying it word for word from the book) a mysterious script entitled "Good Will Hunting" magically drops from the ceiling in Ben's apartment complete with both their names on the cover. What follows is the hilarious send up examining their long bromance as they go from high school talent shows to small parts in movies such as "School Ties". But all is not paradise between these two especially as the script brings out the jealousy in each of them only to be fostered by the incarnations of J.D. Salinger and Gwyneth Paltrow (hysterically both played by Kiki Abba).

Both of the ladies play these bros beautifully. Nottingham manages a more thoughtful yet insecure Matt who perfectly counterpoints Johnson's more assured and easy going Ben. And the two take on these "dudes" without going for too many of the obvious "girls playing guys" clichés and instead attempts to make them real life guys. And Abba manages some absolutely gorgeous moments as varying spirits that intrude on their world especially a wonderfully funny, yet not over the top, hungry Paltrow. These are truly three very funny women and all nicely directed by Chelsea Madsen who keeps the pacing clipping along and never loses some amount of respect for her subjects.

The show is bookended by the old adage that imitation (or adaptation) is the sincerest form of flattery and it's obvious that Kaling and Withers as well as the folks at STAGEright are doing their best to flatter and not insult the objects of their side-splitting affection. And so with my three letter rating system I give "Matt & Ben" a bro-tastic YAY.

"Matt & Ben" from STAGEright performs at Richard Hugo House through February 28th. For tickets or information visit them online at www.seattlestageright.org.

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