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Regional Reviews: Seattle

Angry Housewives Rage Anew in a Spirited Staging
ArtsWest

Also see David's review of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof


(clockwise, from lower left) Janet McWilliams, Chelsea LeValley, Ann Cornelius, and Heather Hawkins
Still the record holder (seven years) for long runs in its world premiere production at the late lamented Pioneer Square Theatre here in Seattle in the 1980s, Angry Housewives was seldom absent from local stages. During the last decade or so, productions have been few and far between. Happily, the current ArtsWest production, directed with verve by Shawn Belyea, choreographed with panache and just a dash (or three) of camp by Troy Wageman, and featuring exuberant musical direction and spirited playing by Nathan Young and a game little band, serves the show well. A.M. Collins' book was always a lightweight fun-poking at punk rock in its glory days, while Chad Henry's music was less punk-skewering than you might recall. Indeed, the tuneful ballads and jazzy upbeat numbers remind one more of Bye Bye Birdie, which only used Elvis-style rock and roll as a diving board into boisterous musical comedy, much as Angry Housewives also does.

Like Bye Bye Birdie, Angry Housewives dives into a battle between the generations, as prototypical housewife/divorcee Bev decides to fight fire with fire when her teen son Tim becomes immersed in his garage punk rock band. She and her housewife pals—Carol, Tim's music teacher; Jetta, who is a homemaker, young mother, and subservient to her preening big baby lawyer husband Larry; and Jetta's unwed college pal Wendi, who is dating a fella named Wallace who just became a millionaire—form their answer to the punk rock craze, The Angry Housewives. Entering a talent night contest at a punk club run by Wallace's old friend Lewd Fingers, they unexpectedly win big, and decide to compete at the next level, little knowing how all their lives will be affected by this turn of events.

Belyea keenly cast the right talent for this show, especially for the four title characters. Heather Hawkins is riotously funny as Bev, from her high energy first solo "Think Positive" throughout, and develops a believable chemistry with the affable Trent Moury who plays her rebellious son Tim. He totally rocks his "First Kid on the Block" lament about how his Mom's punk-rock status embarrasses him. Chelsea LeValley is Jetta, the one of the foursome who grows the most through the experience. LaValley, who has delivered the goods and then some in many recent musicals, is the standout in this show, aided of course by having the best ballad, "I'm Alone in My Home," and the lead in the once shocking Housewives performance number "Eat Your Fucking Cornflakes." Ann Cornelius is just right as Carol, and Janet McWilliams is solid as Wendi, and the four actresses mesh perfectly. Mark Tyler Miller as Larry starts out unlikable and then grows goofier and warmer as he kills his come-to-Jesus number, Brian Lange is a master of mischief as Lewd Fingers, and Jeff Orton is winning as Wallace, particularly in tandem with Lange for the sublimely shticky "Betsy Moberly." All the men also go punk (and beyond) for the raucous "Stalling in Time."

Sets by Dennis Culpepper, video design by Brianna Larson and Brody Davis, and lighting design by Ryan Dunn align to make for the perfect 1980s Seattle look, along with picture perfect costumes designed by K. D. Schill. So, to heck with "Desperate Housewives" and "Real Housewives of INSERT CITY." Head to ArtsWest where Angry Housewives just extended by popular demand.

Angry Housewives runs through May 31, 2015, at ArtsWest Playhouse, 4711 California Ave SW. For tickets or information contact the ArtsWest box office at 206-938-0339 or visit them online at www.artswest.org.

[Note: Troy Wageman assumes the role of Lewd Fingers May 28-31.]


Photo by Michael Brunk

- David Edward Hughes