He’s just sort of stunned. She’s a bridezilla. Expect very little optimism from a comedy about a wedding. Then you’ll be all set for I Now Pronounce, the comedy now at the New Jewish Theatre. Ed Coffield, NJT’s artistic director and a guy with an active sense of humor of his own, has directed this Tasha Gordon-Solomon play that starts out with a coughing codger of a rabbi and goes on from there.
It’s not funny to deal with people who know weddings are not as important as the marriages they begin, people who don’t bicker and demand and freak out. Fortunately, none of those folks are onstage here. Instead we have the aforementioned groom (Graham Emmons) whose groomsmen (Ryan Lawson-Maeske and Will Bonfiglio) are offering to help him escape instead of going back into the reception. The bride (Jessica Kadish) is locked in the restroom crying and shrieking because the rabbi has ruined her wedding by dying mid-ceremony. Her bridesmaids (Frankie Ferrari and Delaney Piggins) aren’t having much luck cajoling her out, although Piggins’ character is somewhat distracted by the cute EMT she’s given her phone number to as he carted the rabbi off.
Things get rough at several points, include the bride lighting into the groom with razor-sharp words that make audience members gasp (and one mutter, “Get out now, pal”). A speech by Bonfiglio is so deeply cynical as well as nasty that it, too, sears us. Ferrari seems to be the always-a-bridesmaid-and-never-a-bride character (once upon a time, kids, that was a phrase used in advertising) and Lawson-Maeske is separated from his wife. Temporarily. He thinks. Or not.
The script is not just bouncing from laugh to laugh. There’s some serious struggles going on here, and we’re seeing fine work from these folks. However, let me cite the immortal W.C. Fields, who warned other performers never to work with animals or children. We have three young women here, the flower girls. Lydia Mae Foss, Abby Goldstein and Millie Eidelman, and they are splendid. They skitter through scene after scene worrying about ghosts as well as grownups, nailing lines, dancing with the rest of the cast, and generally being irresistible. They don’t steal the show, but it’s good they’re mostly onstage when everyone else is not. Particular kudos to Coffield for managing this group so well. Eidelman in particular does her shrieking in fine style.
David Blale was the scenic designer, Tony Anselmo designed the lights, and Amanda Werre the sound, all of which are well-coordinated.
Despite the flower girls, the language onstage means this is more of a production for adults, so be forewarned. And the program is wrong; this is a 100-minute no-intermission production.
I Now Pronounce
through June 2
The New Jewish Theatre
Marvin & Harlene Wool Studio Theatre
Arts & Education Building
Jewish Community Center
2 Millstone Campus Drive
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