Midlife Madness Review

Midlife Madness Review
By Lee Sharpe

You may have missed the last chance for “Midlife Madness” a play by Jennifer Kirkeby that closed Sunday, May 20th at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. And if you did, it’s too bad. It’s a delightful little company in an intimate new venue. It delivers just what’s expected and more on the topic of midlife madness. The “more” is the relationships with good friends and the hilarity they can bring to life.

When invited by Director, Diedre Kaye, who selected the play to co-produce with her husband and Darknight Productions partner, Alexx Stuart, to see the production on Friday night, the first thought on my mind was where to park. Having never been to the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, but I drive by there frequently on my way to the 101 I didn’t remember seeing any parking. When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised to find plenty of parking around the city park area to the south, adjacent to the theatre. As I parked, a courtesy shuttle arrived to deliver me to the theatre curb. What a nice treat.

Peoria Center for the Performing Arts brand new multi-theater performing arts building is a delightful design by Westlake Reed Leskosky with a “craggy copper clad roof hovering above a base of masonry which evokes the color and forms of the desert basin and distant mountains” or so says their website. The complex features 250 seat and 80 seat theaters with support spaces as well as exhibition and educational spaces. The design and experience was very pleasant.

Inside the brand new facility was a crisp clean cool functional design. It’s a blank pallet for artist to create their art. I stood on line at will call to learn there were actually four productions going on in the same facility that evening. Darknight Productions performance of “Midlife Madness” was in a small theatre on the south side of the larger theatre where another company, Theatre Works, was performing “The Miracle Worker”. The snack bar, although limited in selections, was very economically priced.

“Midlife Madness” author Jennifer Kirkeby of Minnesota attended the production opening, but was not at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts as the production finished it’s run. Diedre Kaye says, “Jennifer and I have been friends for years and used to perform together in Minneapolis. When I read the script, I knew I wanted to be the first to produce and direct it. The relationships in this play are so special and so reminiscent of the times we had together in theater in Minneapolis. I was thrilled when Jen gave us permission to do the world premiere.”

The playwright admits the play is somewhat autobiographical when she responded to audience questions following the opening night performance. “Yes, many of the stories are true – except I never had an affair with a Mime.” And now, according to Kaye, she can claim another piece of the story is true. The lead character and playwright in the story, Susan, (played by Jenny Mulcahy) gets a review of her new play “Midlife” that says, “The audience loved it. They laughed, they cried, they bought the t-shirt.” Except for buying the t-shirt (there were none), the same was true for the audiences of Kirkeby’s newest play which premiered May 11th.

At the center of this production is Susan, played by Jenny Mulcahy, the midlife single woman always on the prowl for men. Her apartment is the primary set where the stories unfold. Susan has the beautiful sun tanned glow, and low cut breast accentuating wardrobe of the looking for love, but not so much commitment women you can find in any bar or gym in town. Mulcahy plays the role well in a happy, almost giddy light hearted style that makes us warm to her even in her most obviously self-centered moments. Like the wine Susan drinks constantly, her dry wit flows through the script arousing everything from snickers and mild chuckles to belly laughs, and “oh my god I’m gonna pee my pants!” from the audience. The only criticism I can lay on Mulcahy’s feet, or actually on her breasts, is the makeup line fell far short in the final scene gown, creating a very distracting glow under the bright lights. The secret is out, you’re not really that tan! Not to worry, the performance was wonderfully entertaining.

Trish, played by Alaina Beauloye, and Susan are best friends who find their way through new and old relationships as they reconfirm their unconditional love for each other. Trish is the straight man to Susan’s delivery of hilarious lines. It’s hard being the straight man and getting the timing and tone just right and Beaulove has a great sense and connection for delivery with Mulcahy. As the married and unappreciated wife and mother, she hits midlife looking for more and finds it in a fling with a mime from her daughter’s birthday party who showers her with passion and admiration. A gorgeous blonde, Beaulove plays Trish as vulnerable and easy prey for a conman. Betrayed when her best friend writes about her secret extramarital affair, she quickly overcomes the hurt to engage in the infectious laughter they generate as they retell their stories of performing together blended with the trials of growing older that keeps the audience laughing with them.

Especially enjoyable was Rick played by Tom Koelbel. Rick’s recent breakup with his lover Mark caused him to search for emotional support through Performance Art (his warm ups are precious!) and his friends Susan and Trish. It’s as much fun watching the girls watch Rick perform as it is to watch him. Koelbel’s stage presence is so strong from the first moment he appeared it seemed he might overwhelm the rest of the cast, but he tones his character to “play well with others”. An amusing unsolicited review came in the restroom during intermission when a woman told me, “You know he’s not really gay!” I responded, “Oh really?” And she said, “He just plays it so well!” There you have it! Koelbel has talent and I’m sure he could play most any role well. He is exceptionally entertaining and enjoyable in this production.

The fine troupe of actors is rounded out by Rolando Zee’s ability to create two distinctly different characters as Ross, the personal trainer at the girl’s gym, and Milton, who has the steamy affair with Trish. Zee’s stage, film and modeling credits are impressive as is his incredible physique. For much of the production his character is little more than eye candy. But the few lines and two characters he portrays demonstrate he has acting talent as well. The gym scene was great. How to be a crazed hold up man while two women are doing a hysterical comedy act is tough. But Zee pulled it off and took the fall as well as any professional stunt man. He will certainly have a long and successful career in acting.

Music was from Lisa Koch CD’s “Tall Cool Drink and Both of Me” available online at www.heylisa.com. Director Deidre Kaye says, “Her music fit perfectly into the storyline.” Menopausal women will love her lyrics.

So if you missed this delightful production you will want to mark you calendar for the next show by Darknight Productions to be held in old town Scottsdale beginning next October. You can see a preview on June 14th - Murder at Savings & Loan Ballpark (s.lo.b.)by Alexx Stuart. It’s a parody of the Diamondbacks and baseball in general. The location is Grimaldi's Pizzeria at 4000 Scottsdale Road (southwest corner of First Avenue and Scottsdale Rd.) It promises to be great food and a very funny show! Tickets are $40 and include play, dinner (4 courses) tax and gratuity. Grimaldi's was just voted "Best pizza in the valley that isn't Bianco"

For more information or tickets see http://darknightproductions.tripod.com/ or call 480-595-7346.