Showpony

Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Victory Theatre
Through December 16

RECOMMENDED

Like so many of our social and/or cultural environments, today’s workplace is radically different from what it was many decades ago when the centers of power were pretty much the sole province of white males. American women had their “stations,” and not too much concern was given over to things like equal rights, discrimination (in all its forms), sexual harassment and the troublesome issues of PC. But things have certainly changed — or have they? — which brings us to Judith Leora’s world premiere comedy about a group of working women today.

The play takes place in a New York City advertising agency, and it is in the conference room that we meet five women who have assembled there to finalize a pitch for stiletto heels and a ghastly expensive hand bag. They are, to say the least, a lively bunch. The ambitious Tara (Sionne Elise) is an attractive blonde who lives to please her planet-sized asshole of a boss, Walker (Marshall McCabe). Sam (a hilariously grand performance by Lizzy Kimball) is a gruff, foul-mouthed raging feminist and lesbian who delights in “stirring things up.” Both are white, while the other three are African-American hires from a newly acquired company.

Patricia (Elle Verneé), is an older woman with a noticeable dignity and restraint, as well as a new home she thought she would keep. Destiny (Bianca Lemaire) is sly, ambitious and sharply opinionated, while Omolola (Krystel Roche) is an advertising intern from Nigeria with a humorous, disarming naïveté about the ways of America. With this mix, it’s no surprise that this conference about fashion items more often resembles a free-for-all forum on a host of PC hot topics, giving rise to many embarrassing moments of candor, cultural missteps, lots of shouting, female bonding — and food fighting.

Act 2 transpires in Walker’s hotel room during and after the marketing presentation. It’s rather slow-moving at first, with glimpses into a few romantic moments between Destiny and Walker. As the rest of the gals assemble, new perspectives on their roles in the company are gradually revealed, along with some unpleasant realities. After an anemic start, things get into gear, and the wild, raucous atmosphere of Act 1 returns with a lot more laughs.

Performances are quite good under the direction of Tom Ormeny, who does a superb job of overseeing the manic energy on display. Evan Bartoletti’s set and Lauri Fitzsimmons’ costumes are first-rate. Carol Doehring provides the rich and effective lighting schema.

Victory Theatre Center, 3326 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 4 p.m., through Dec. 16. www.thevictorytheatrecenter.org or (818) 841-5421. Running time: two hours and five minutes with one intermission.