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Sunday, May 13, 2012

REVIEW: “SOUTHERN COMFORTS” @ THE WOMEN’S THEATER COMPANY

clip_image002After the angst of a deteriorating marriage in The Last Five Years, the Women's Theater Company closes the season on an optimistic note with Southern Comforts, which runs at the Parsippany Playhouse in Lake Hiawatha for only one weekend more, closing on May 20.

This charming, bittersweet romantic comedy by Kathleen Clark (Secrets of a Soccer Mom) was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn writing award and was produced off Broadway.

Set in the living room of a Morris County Victorian house (well-designed by Jonathan Wentz), Southern Comforts follows the romance of two senior citizens, both widowed, from initial meeting, through some rough patches, to ultimate reconciliation. Tennessee native Amanda Cross encounters cantankerous Gus Klingaman when she drops off a donation thank you from the Morris County church her daughter Nell attends. Serendipitously brought together by a raging thunderstorm, the two discover a shared love for baseball, which they like to watch with the sound turned off. Amanda's genial disposition breaks through Gus's reticence and fears to reveal a warmly funny man whose loneliness threatens to consume him. As the romance flourishes over the next six months, the two learn to disagree, to open up, to fight and to make up. This delightful story makes for equally delightful theater.

Director Barbara Krajkowski keeps a light but firm hand on the proceedings, eliciting charming performances from real-life married couple Nona Pipes (above, right) and Robert M. Hefley (above left). Hefly is the embodiment of grumpiness; even his face says, "Don't mess with me." Just watching his demeanor melt under the warm sunniness of Amanda's expansive personality is a treat. The metamorphosis happens slowly; Gus doesn't give up his secrets willingly, so we are intrigued at what's really bothering him and are anxious to find out. Hefley's sympathetic performance makes us really care about him.

Amanda's character could be played as too saccharine, but Pipes makes her equally as likable and very funny. Don't let her soft Southern accent fool you (or Gus); she has a backbone of steel and isn't afraid to speak up for what she believes is important. She has a sly sense of humor as befits a woman whose motto is, "We laugh so we don't cry." And Hefley's Gus responds to this independent woman who keeps him awake "like a good cup of coffee"! Her directness gets to the core of this taciturn man's being so deeply that he finds himself talking about subjects he's never talked about before, like  S-E-X. But Amanda gets him to open up, and the result is quite successful.

Costume designers Frances M. Harrison and Joan Ludwig are to be commended for using attire to signal the various stages in this budding relationship. Ditto the props provided by Wentz, Lizette Zuccamaglia, Katie Mitchell and Beth Jacksler, which turn a Spartan bachelor pad into a warm home. Larry Wilbur's sound effects heighten the atmosphere, and the choice of music puts us in a mellow mood.

Southern Comforts could be considered predictable fare were it not for the clever, snappy dialogue and the pitch-perfect delivery by Pipes and Hefley. The chemistry is palpable, helped by the fact that the two are a couple in real life.

So for a upbeat end to the 2011-2012 season, head on over to the Women's Theater Company for some Southern Comforts. It is just the antidote to the pre-election wrangling and yammering on the television, and reminds us that love is not just for the young and can be "wonderful the second time around."

Southern Comforts will be performed Friday and Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM through May 20 at the Parsippany Playhouse, 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha. For tickets, call 973.316.3033.