Review written by Brenda Barringer

After the success of the Waterworks Players recent production of RENT, they had to begin “from scratch” (as every new production must) with auditions for their next show, The Kitchen Witches, an award-winning comedy by Canadian playwright, Caroline Smith.  Director, Dudley Sauve, could be mistaken for a chef since he chose the perfect “ingredients” (cast members) for The Kitchen Witches “recipe” and once again shows us why he was such a deserving recipient of an LCVA Community Achievement in the Arts Award this year.

Before the show began, I decided to sneak a quick peek at the character descriptions listed in the front of the script so I could be extra critical of the cast members meeting the writer’s expectations, and in the end, there was nothing to be critical about because the cast nailed every one.   In brief, the cast called for only four people:  Dolly Biddle, a “mature”, creatively comedic woman who tends to be overly indulgent (in all of the wrong things), easily distracted from her cooking tutorials while giving advice on personal matters, and immensely proud of her son, Stephen Biddle.   Stephen Biddle is a nervous, thirty-something, low-budget cable TV show producer (of his mother’s cooking show, as it so happens), and he is more of a lover than a fighter.  Isobel Lomax is another “mature”, bright, and articulate woman who has come to terms with the choices she made in life to pursue the successful career she has earned.  She tends to believe she is so successful, in fact, that she thinks she could teach Martha Stuart a thing or two.  (Does the word pretentious come to mind, or is it just me?)  Rounding out the cast of four is “Rob the Camera Guy”, the reliable production assistant from the “Getting Our Kids Off the Street” program.

The show “preheats” with the last LIVE production of Dolly Biddle’s solo cooking show.  Dolly, portrayed by Martha Womack, is known to her viewers (and audience, initially) as “Babcha”.  Martha offers up a purposefully (I think) questionable foreign accent while carrying on about the correct pronunciation of “pierogie” . . . you know, those potato and cheese filled pasta things that everyone mumbles the name of because they’re never certain how to pronounce it . . . and she proceeds with offering advice on personal matters one would never consider appropriate for a cooking show.  Just as Dolly (Martha) finally gets to the cooking part of her cooking show, she is eventually interrupted by Isobel  Lomax, played by Daphne Mason.  The convincing confrontation that ensues between Isobel (Daphne) and Dolly (Martha) gives the audience their first insight into the thirty year hatred these women have shared for each other over the never present, but often referenced character in the plot, Larry Biddle.  It is not only the performances of Daphne and Martha that convince the audience of the history between these characters, but also the resulting “ratings hike” from the accidental on-air confrontation of the characters that convinces the station owner to give Isobel and Dolly a cooking show together.

Stephen Biddle’s (Jordan Whiley’s) pleas with the battling babes to give the show a chance finally pay off, and he sets to writing the scripts.  With each failed effort the nicorette chewing, nicotine patch wearing Stephen makes to coerce the ladies to cooperate through rehearsals and show, Jordan Whiley gives us more reason to believe in his character’s somewhat pathetic, yet equally humorous predicament.  As “The Kitchen Witches” cooking show progresses, the details of Stephen’s life history are literally broadcast by the female duo, and his situation only gets worse.   Jordan does an excellent job of keeping the balance of his character as a real, “average guy” facing unique circumstances without overplaying the role.   Even when he is “on-air” and seriously citing sponsor ads you might otherwise ignore in real life, you should really pay attention as his deliberately dry delivery will lead you to laughter. 

Martha and Daphne are certainly no amateurs in comedic delivery, either.  They naturally toss out the one-liners of their witchy women characters and have you laughing before you ever see it coming.  Daphne’s tell-all facial expressions reveal Isobel’s feelings about any given moment, comment, or costume before a word ever needs to be spoken.  Martha (Dolly) even discreetly uses her body language without distracting from the scene to draw more humor to a confrontation she has with Isobel while wearing an already hysterical apron.

Now you’re probably thinking, “I thought she said there was a fourth character?”  There certainly is.  It’s Rob the Camera Guy, remember?  Now, Rob, played by JR Schipper, doesn’t have much to say throughout the show, although he is almost always present on stage.  He does his job, does his best to help Stephen out in every way he can, cleans up the messes on the set, and runs the video camera. Although a silent character for most of the show, returning Waterworks ‘newbie’, JR Schipper, actually does a great job of reacting to the cooks’ catty chaos, Stephen’s seemingly private asides, and all of the family history revealed in between without ever saying a word.  In the process, he leads the audience to realize that this “kid being kept off the street” is actually Mr. Reliable, and probably the most sensible character seen in the show.  

As with every theater production, the show wouldn’t be possible without the behind-the-scenes “characters”.  Dudley Sauve not only directed the show, but also worked with fellow theater mogul, Moffatt Evans, to design and build the perfect ‘LIVE Cooking Show’ set.  Elizabeth Whiley donates her time to the food props, a big job in and of itself for all the cooking scenes. (And I can tell you that the lucky audience member selected to serve as the judge for “The Kitchen Witches Quickie Challenge” is in for a good bit of sweet taste testing)!  Donald Hicks lends his helping hands to the remaining props, and Rosemary Pollard and Kevin Jones contribute their time to sound and lights (respectively) while stage manager, Brandon Nuckols keeps them all on target with the flow of the show.

The Waterworks Players well-executed production of The Kitchen Witches is a “tasty” comedic show full of food, fun, audience interaction, and surprises.  You might even learn some lessons along the way like we all did at tonight’s show:  Violently wielded meat cleavers and glass cutting boards don’t mix!  The Kitchen Witches heats up the stage June 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 8 PM, and reservations can be made by phone at 434-392-3452 or online at www.waterworksplayers.com for only $10 each.   Come cool off from the summer heat with a night of comedy, but before you touch any food, please be sure to “wash your hands”!

This June Waterworks Players is excited to present Caroline Smith's comedy The Kitchen Witches, a story pitting two friends who aren’t anymore. Both are celebrity chefs, who each had a previously successful show. In an effort to revive their careers, the two rancorous cooks must work a televised program together on their local cable-access network. The juxtaposition of the domestic divas dueling on stage makes for hilarious situations and memorable discourse involving audience participation.

Artistic Director Dudley Sauve has reunited two favorites to play the feuding women. “Theatre fans will fondly remember Daphne Mason and Martha Womack as the Brewster sisters, the homicidal maniacs of Arsenic and Old Lace,” who according to Suave, “were two of the sweetest maidens who ever baked biscuits, provided hot soup to ailing neighbors, and invited the minister to tea, but also took it upon themselves to poison homeless old men.”

Sauve quickly notes that The Kitchen Witches will be equally memorable, with a lot of fun and unusual things for theatre-goers or all temperaments including quirky subject matter, hilarious comedy roles for mature women, improvisation, and whipped cream. With a grin on his face Sauve notes, “You will just have to see the show yourself to find out what that is all about.”

Daphne Mason is cast as the professional, proper, and slightly intimidating Isobel Lomax, a Martha Stewart-like character who has to have everything organized and "just so." Martha Womack is cast as the outrageous Dolly Biddle, who is more like Rachel Ray, throwing things in the mix without necessarily measuring beforehand. Both are stage veterans, with Mason having been most recently cast as Sister Aloysius Beauvier in Doubt and Womack as Clairee Belcher in Steel Magnolias.

Also in the performance are Jordan Whiley and J.R. Schipper. Whiley will play Stephen Biddle, the son of Dolly and producer of the cooking show, who struggles mightily to maintain order on the set and is afraid to confront his mother about her shortcomings. Schipper is cast as Rob the camera guy, a former production assistant in the local “Getting Our Kids Off the Street” program who dresses in Goth fashion and slightly intimidates Stephen.

Make reservations now to attend Waterworks Players’ production of The Kitchen Witches. Performances are at 8:00 pm on June 18, 19, 25 and 26. Tickets are $10. You can obtain tickets by calling the box office at 434-392-3452 or visiting the web site: http://waterworksplayers.org .

Edward Kinman, Reviewer

View images from the show.

Audiences are in for a musical treat when Rent opens this Friday at Waterworks Players in Farmville.  The playhouse has been transformed to the gritty feel of New York’s lower east side for Jonathan Larson’s rock opera that documents a year in the lives of struggling artists, AIDS suffers, and homeless people trying to survive between one Christmas and another.

The show opens with roommates Mark and Roger struggling with issues of poverty, success, loss, and identity.  Mark, skillfully played by Rick Neller, is an aspiring filmmaker who serves as narrator throughout the show.  Roger, portrayed by Kevin Jones, renders a complex songwriter struggling with AIDS, the suicide of his former girlfriend, and desire to write one last great song before he dies.  His sensuality is complemented by the more explicit eroticism of Katie Robey, whose Mimi character combines street-smarts swagger and mortal fragility.  Roger’s emerging, yet conflicting desires towards Mimi are revealed in their duet “Light My Candle” and remain the show’s romantic centerpieces. 

Mark, Roger, Mimi, and a number of other characters, are squatters in a building owned by Benny (Matt Spalding), a former classmate who has married money and plans to transform the building into a cyber-studio.  Early in the show Benny demands overdue rent, in which the chorus of residents responds in song “We’re Never Gonna Pay!”  Benny is the show’s antagonist with his development efforts that include the removal of the homeless living in tents across the street from his building.  Resistance to Benny takes many forms with Maureen (Caroline Kramen), a performance artist, staging a public street protest.  Joanne (Erin Wind), as a headstrong public-defender lawyer, uses her professional legal skills to fight Benny.  While Maureen and Joanne are united in their cause for the homeless, they are a contentious lesbian couple who sing the prickly duet “Take Me of Leave Me.” 

Interspersed throughout the main conflict are stories of a number of struggling characters.  Early in the first act Collins (Justin Smith) is reeling from a mugging.  He is comforted by Angel (Carlos Galicia), a flamboyant street musician who offers him a helping hand when singing “You Okay, Honey?”  Both learn that each other is HIV+ and develop a love interest that lasts until Angel’s death.  At the memorial service, Angel’s friends remember his spirit, while Collis remembers his love by singing “I’ll Cover You.”.

The lead roles are joined by a strong ensemble that includes Jennifer Abel, Jay Artis, Shelbi Bennett, Cheryl Hinterleitner, Walter McCoy, Christie Moore, JR Schipper, Marlowe Vilchez, and Donald Hicks who all take on many various roles throughout the show.  The supporting actors do an excellent job in joining the major characters in singing “La Vie Boheme” and “Seasons of Love.”

Moffat Evans has created a raw set, comprised of steel scaffolding and wood that blends with the playhouse’s suspended catwalks.  The squalid feel is punctuated by a tall and tangled sculpture with colorful lights resembling an abstract Christmas tree.  The simple set pushes the action out towards the audience, focusing attention on the actors instead of their surroundings.

Dudley Sauve, artistic director, deserves a lot of credit for bringing Rent to Waterworks, the first production in Virginia.  This isn’t an easy production to pull off given its complex plot and a large cast.  The show’s production qualities are excellent.  Brenda Barringer, as music director, needs to be commended for the quality of singing by the entire ensemble that includes songs from a variety of music genres.  She further contributes to the show by beautifully singing a solo in “Seasons of Love” and directing the band, composed of Stan Smith (piano), Josh Ludgate (electric guitar/acoustic guitar), Max Doss (bass), and Gordon Smith (drums).   

Rent is a story which addresses adult themes and controversial issues. Parental guidance is suggested. It is not recommended for children under 13.

Make reservations now to attend Waterworks Players’ production of Rent.  Performances are at 8:00 pm on April 16, 17, 23 and 24.  Tickets are $15.  You can obtain tickets by calling the box office at 434-392-3452 or visiting the web site: http://waterworksplayers.org .