I had the pleasure of attending the opening night performance of The Long Weekend at Westminster Community Playhouse.

Let me start by saying that, as an actor, I know how much time and hard work goes into the “hell week” leading up to opening weekend. In addition to having rehearsed every night during that week, you’ve usually just added hair styling, costumes, lights, and sound during that same week. Then BOOM, you’ve got an audience.

To say that the whole feel and flow of a performance changes when you have an audience is an understatement. Leading up to that point, you can only guess what people will react to based on your own reactions or possibly the reactions of your director and stage manager through the rehearsal process. Once you start getting laughs, applause, and other reactions from the audience, you learn a lot more about the show and your own performance in it. I usually like to give the actors the benefit of the doubt on an opening weekend if there are pacing issues, especially when there are people like myself and my mother in the audience (i.e. loud laughers).

The Long Weekend, written by Norm Foster, is the story of two couples who have been friends for a long time. The two women are friends from high school and their husbands do not get along, masking it through passive aggressive snips at each other. The couples end up getting divorced and remarrying the other’s partner. All in all, the script is witty and funny, though possibly a little redundant at times, however, this stellar cast did amazing work with it.

Bill Paxton (Roger) is the star performer, showing a great character development over the story’s two-year progression. He displays how his character changes over time and in reaction to his new wife and their compatibility (or in-compatibility depending on how you want to look at it). In the first act, he shows more of a vulnerable side, wanting to be a successful screen writer, but having spent three months struggling over just the right word before continuing. However, in the second act, you see a more confident, successful writer, but with exaggerated paranoia influenced by his psychiatrist wife.

Susan Levinstein’s fickle fashionista, Abby, is terrible in the best way. She’s extremely judgmental and mildly narcissistic and the combination makes for some great comedy. What also makes her character so great is that she doesn’t change for anyone and is always unapologetically herself. Levinstein really played up her over-the-top character and added to the comedy by having a visual reaction to everything, always in character. You can’t help but keep your eyes on her and her reactions during the scenes, even when she isn’t the primary focus.

Greg Stokes (Max) and Harlene Miller (Wynn) balance out the cast as the remaining partners. They work seamlessly as opposing parts of the same coin. Greg plays up his character’s neurosis, while Harlene is the constant reminder of them to all. Additionally, Greg plays up the surprise ending that leaves you laughing and wanting more. The foursome come together to bring the script to life and really play up the funny moments.

This script in the hands of another set of actors could come off redundant and boring, but this cast really brings it all together and plays up the funny. It was a wonderful treat after a long, stressful week and definitely started my weekend off right!

Have you seen the show? Let me know what you thought in the comments!

The show runs through January 27th, Fridays and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday afternoons at 2pm at Westminster Community Playhouse. If you have time, definitely check it out and you will not be disappointed!