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| Susan Sindelar, Tina Khalil, Barbara McBain, and Elizabeth Peterson photo by John Groseclose |
Click here for more information on this production that runs through November 12th.
"The playwriting trio of Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten have written over a dozen popular plays...that feature strong female characters and a big dose of Southern charm. One of their most recent comedies, The Savannah Sipping Society, makes its Phoenix debut at Theater Works in Peoria in a production that's as strong as the four women at the center of the play....While the play is more of a character study with a fairly minimal plot, it does focus on this fearsome foursome who are all unique, realistic women and who all learn from each other, grow, and change throughout the show. The playwrights use identifiable life events to paint real woman who are highly recognizable, including a recent divorcee, a new widow, and a woman who was recently let go from her job. Director Dominik Rebilas and his excellent make each woman different and distinguishable. As Randa, ..Elizabeth Peterson appropriately exhibits obsessive traits and a buttoned-up but always perfect demeanor. Tina Khalil plays Marlafaye, the fun loving, boisterous and recently divorced 50-year-old...but underneath we see she is also dealing with a lot of pain. As Dot, Barbara McBain beautifully portrays the oldest woman in the group who was recently widowed ...Susan Sindelar is a firecracker as the freewheeling, rambunctious Jinx...Rebilas' adept direction ensures the many comical lines and sequences get big laughs without giving short shaft to the serious moments which are highly moving. Brett Aiken's beautiful set realistically creates Randa's Savannah porch...Tamara Treat's costumes are a nonstop parade of character-specific designs..The Savannah Sipping Society may not be a perfect play, as most of the plot is predictable and the characters all familiar. However, there are several elements that take the show in an unsuspecting direction. There are also a few moving and poignant moments along with the laugh out loud comedy. Theater Works' production has a great cast and perfectly subtle direction that help smooth over some of the play's shortcomings and combine to beautifully portray the power of friendship.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)
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