‘Five Women' wraps up season with cutting humor

A lot of sarcasm and “cattiness” will be going on as the curtain rises for the final production of Entertainment Inc!'s 2005-2006 season May 4-8 at the Old Armory. After all, that's usually what happens when you put five women in the same room together, especially if they're all wearing the same dress.

Written by Alan Ball - writer of the Oscar-winning HBO movie series Six Feet Under and Oscar-winning Director of American Beauty - and directed by B. Michael Quale, “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” is a tenacious portrayal of characteristic issues lamented by bridesmaids, including the bad dress they must wear.

During a wedding reception at a well-to-do Tennessee residence, five bridesmaids “hole up” in the upstairs bedroom where they initially donned their dresses.

“Most of the dialogue takes place with them discussing various things, mostly having to do with the wedding,” said Quale. “We find out that none of them really care for the bride; that includes the bride's younger sister.”

Throughout the course of the evening, the audience will learn more of the women's relationships to each other, as well as the course each of their lives has taken.

“The age of the characters runs from about 21 to the late 30s,” the traditional ages of bridesmaids, said Quale, who added that all of the actresses are relatively close in age to the characters they are portraying.

The bridesmaids each run the gamut as far as their experiences with weddings, marriage and relationships: “One has never been married and has very limited experience dating,” explained Quale. “Another is very experienced, probably too experienced with men and relationships, and she's basically given up on them.

One does not have any time for a man and doesn't ever plan on having time for men in her life. Another one has been married and even has a child, but has decided that that was a mistake, that she shouldn't be married. Another has been focusing more on her career and education, but basically things she's made some wrong choices in life.

The single male role in the stage, played by Darin Brose, who is making his stage performance debut with 5 Women, comes onto the scene toward the end.

“Of course they're kind of looking for available men,” Quale said of the bridesmaids. “He is probably one of the only available men, and the play basically goes into the point that there may be another possible relationship.

“His take on this is pretty realistic,” Quale continued of Ball's writing. “These are typical things that women this age would struggle with. The setting of a wedding is what brings it all out for the bridesmaids.”

And, of course, the dresses are addressed.

“The costumes have been fun,” Quale said. “There are a lot of jokes about bridesmaids' dresses and the fact that none of them feel it is their most beautiful moment. There is some question as to whether that's intentional by the bride or not.”

Throughout the show, the bride never appears to defend herself.

A comedy meant to entertain, Quale feels the show will appeal to both men and women, but with women - especially those who have been bridesmaids - drawing a closer connection.

“They'll remember what it's like” to be a bridesmaid, said Quale. “They'll ‘get it.'”

Quale added that, with some outrageousness and visual humor, men will enjoy it as well.

“There aren't really any deep lying values or messages,” Quale said, adding that there is some adult content in situations. “It's somewhat sophisticated humor - cutting humor. It's not for family fare or young audiences.”

Quale said the cast has been having a great deal of fun with 5 Women.

“The girls are playing against type. That's one of the great things about doing theater. You get to play somebody that is quite different than yourself.”

With 5 Women being the season finale, Quale said this season has been particularly enjoyable to direct because there was a high quality of performances and actors.

Entertainment Inc! has showcased a wide variety of productions, despite the fact that there is not a huge stable of people who act as a constant in the area.

“We try to spread it around,” he said of the casting. “We know audiences don't always want to see the same people on stage. But on the same token, they do like to see actors who are experienced.”

Quale encourages people of all ages to get involved in Entertainment Inc!

“People have done it at various times in their life,” he said of actors over the years. “They will be involved and then their lives get busy for one reason or another, whether it be jobs or families. And when things slow down later in life they come back. We need all ages.”

Potential actors often throw aside their bashfulness to audition and end up in a debut production.

“That's how Darin got started,” he said of Brose.

Also at the top of the list for Entertainment Inc! this fall will be a collaborative effort with the Old Armory for the facility's 90th anniversary set to be an entertaining fundraiser.

“We will take input from interested people,” Quale said of organizing the event. “If they've seen things or are aware of something that they'd like to see on stage, call us and make the suggestion.”

The play opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4. Other evening performances will be Friday, Saturday and Monday, May 5, 6 and 8. A matinee performance will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday May 7.

Tickets are now on sale, and reservations are recommended. For reservations and more information, contact the box office at 577-3179 or visit the Entertainment Inc! office from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Old Armory, 320 First Ave. E. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door.