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Next Stop SpinsterLand
An unromantic comedy
By Lindsay Casella & Stephanie Greenwald
Directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith
Produced by NotQuiteCoy productions
At the Athenaeum Theatre
2936 N. Southport
Chicago, IL
Call 312-902-1500, tickets $18
Thursday thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 5 minutes with intermission
Through April 6, 2008
Male bashing comedy only for 20-30something women
NotQuiteCoy Production’s first show, an original female focused comedy plays more like a sketch comedy than a full length play. Written and starring Lindsey Casella and Stephanie Greenwald and directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith, Next Stop SpinsterLand is a no-so-funny male bashing comedy that is so female flavored that I’d call it a “girls night out” show. As a 60something male, I simply couldn’t relate to either of the main characters—both unmarried and unattached almost 30 year old females.
The hook here is that they are on the brown line “El” that mysteriously turns into a train to SpinsterLand after make a stop at Belmont one morning. The women are immediately arrested for being single and they are sentenced to find a man to marry within 24 hours or be doomed to eternity in SpinsterLand. This weak premise is the start of a complete guys are pigs series of vignettes that follows the two gals as they (much too easily) comply to the judge’s order.
I guess I’m too old and too male to appreciate the humor offered here. From a weird orientation session to a speed-dating scene to a destination dating bit followed by a cyber dating scene, we see all the possible male bachelors as a group of selfish, arrogant and genuinely loser types implying that most men are jerks. I found these stereotypical personae to be offensive. Based on how Lindsay Casella and Stephanie Greenwald created and played the two almost-spinsters, I can understand why the men were cool to them. Both women are average looking and neither exuded much charm or likeability. We must empathize and care for each women’s plight. Maybe woman can but I didn’t, therefore, I think they are getting what they deserve here.
The final sketch is a game show format—a Jeopardy-Price is Right show called “Win a Husband” contest pitting the two gals against each other with the winner getting the man. There is an original song about love at first sight that is not only sung off key by the women but mocks men as it sings to the guys wanting oral sex as a condition of their love.
I never laughed and a sprinkling of women in the audience seemed to enjoy this show—I didn’t. It needs a trim and a better focus and more stinging humor. Plus the women depicted are so plain that we understand why they are alone. This is a girls show all they way.
Somewhat Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2008
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