BOBBY D. LUX and Adriano Brown as Leon and Jack in “Leading Ladies” (WCP photo).

By Thom deMartino
Orange County Tribune

Lord, what fools these mortals be.
Westminster Community Playhouse is at it again, with their newest production: the fantastic farce “Leading Ladies.” Written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Gregory Cohen, it’s the story of a pair of struggling actors – Shakespearean, by trade – in 1952 York, Pennsylvania and their get-rich-quick scheme that doesn’t play out quite the way they’d planned.

Meg (Mandy Abbigail Krause) is niece to her elderly (and wealthy) Aunt Florence (Yvonne Robertson), and set to become heiress when she passes – but at the moment, she is more concerned with making it to a production of “Scenes From Shakespeare” playing at the local Moose Lodge.

Unfortunately her curmudgeonly beau, the Rev. Duncan Wooley (Chris Brennan), has lent his car to a neighbor… convenient timing, as he’s no fan of actors or their trade.

The following day, English thespians Leo Clark (Bobby D. Lux) and Jack Gable (Adriano Brown) are commiserating over the lack of enthusiasm the previous night’s show inspired… as well as their lack of cash. But upon reading in the local paper about the well-off Florence looking for her missing relatives Max & Steve – having shipped off to England years before – the actor convinces his cohort that they can pose as the two young men, to gain a rich payday when the elderly woman finally shuffles off the mortal coil.

Or can they?

Into their train car skates the effervescent Audrey (Sara Kersnowski), a local girl who’s happy to fill the pair in on Florence’s story, and her search for her *nieces*, Maxine & Stephanie – that is to say, Max & Steve. Unfazed by this revelation (and accustomed to playing the opposite sex in some of Shakespeare’s work), Leo convinces Jack the pair can play their roles in drag to hoodwink the old woman.

Upon arrival, the pair of “nieces” are met by Meg and Duncan… the latter being more than a little suspicious of the sudden appearances of the disguised Leo and Jack, as their claim to the inheritance may threaten his hopes to sway Meg to eventually turn hers over to his “foundation.”

Further complicating matters is Doc Myers (Greg Stokes) the local physician (who’s no fan of Duncan), and his son Butch (Andrew Yonce), who is himself crushing hard on Audrey… only now, Leo and Jack are finding themselves smitten by Meg and Audrey – but how can that ever work out? And yet, when Leo discovers that Meg knows and admires his work as an actor, he begins to hatch a risky new plan… one that may throw their moneymaking scheme into chaos.

This is a fantastic farce the Westminster Community Playhouse is staging, with lots of laughs and outstanding comedic physicality by the actors (such as by Brennan’s Duncan as he flails around in frustration, venting about actors, or Brown’s Jack in drag, struggling to stay upright as he strides unsteadily in heels.)

There’s splendid timing and quick changes, marvelous chemistry between Krause’s Meg (called “Margaret” by her would-be cousins) and Lux’s Leo, as well as between Jack and Kersnowski’s Audrey. There’s excellent interplay between the multiple characters, with sharp dialogue and snappy delivery, and the actors’ energy really shows how devoted they are to this comedy.

Lux has some great bits throughout, and really shines in this role, while Brown is an outstanding new addition to the Westminster Community Playhouse roster (as are several other new faces in this show.)

It’s a marvelous and fun production, a treat for both veteran theatergoers and new patrons of WCP. Playing through March 29, “Leading Ladies” is an immense amount of fun for all, and one to catch while you can.

“Leading Ladies”: Mandy Abbigail Krause, Bobby D. Lux and Adriano Brown star in this comedy of love and deception. Playing through March 29 at the Westminster Community Playhouse, 7272 Maple St, Westminster. Ticketing information available online at http://www.wcpstage.com, or call (714) 893-8626.