I’m a little late on this one because I’ve been pretty busy and now the play is over, but I did still want to write up a little something. In this case, let’s call this post half review and half life update.

I had the pleasure a couple weeks ago of seeing Old Acquaintance at Westminster Community Playhouse. This play by John Van Druten is dated, but an interesting melodrama nonetheless. Brandon Ferruccio not only brilliantly directed this talented cast, but also designed the beautiful set and costumes. If you’ve been following along, you know I love period pieces for their gorgeous sets, costumes, and wigs. Old Acquaintance was no exception.

While I love a good play about writing in general, this one really stood out to me in my current endeavors. Having recently been accepted to graduate school and heading off to NYU in the fall to get my MS in Publishing, I was particularly interested in the subject of the two authors and their different publishing experiences. Kit (Kimberly Wooldridge) is considered the “real” writer. She doesn’t come out with new books often, but the ones she publishes are of real substance. People respect her and her writing in a way that they don’t the work of Millie (Maria O’Connor). In contrast, Millie writes “fluff” and pumps out new books with what seems like very little effort. The two women have been friends for very long, and have a professional competition as well as a personal one.

The interpersonal aspects of the story are quite incestuous, in the colloquial form of the word. Kit has never married, but has a lover, Rudd (Jeremy Krasovic). Millie has been married and divorced with one daughter, Deirdre (Grace O’Neill). Deirdre, while being Millie’s daughter, always had more respect for her Aunt Kit and views her as a combination of parental figure and best friend. However, Deidre and Rudd end up falling in love and we discover that Millie’s ex-husband, Preston (Rick Werblin), had an emotional affair with Kit during their marriage. And the web continues to intertwine.

While the story may seem contrived, the chemistry between Woolridge and O’Connor really brought it to life. The two are the best of frenemies and you could really feel it in every interaction. The two maids, Sabrina (Laurie Robbins, hi, mom!) and Susan (Tamra Talbert), lightened up some of the heavier scenes with their humorous dialogue and comedic performances. The entire cast really shined in their roles and turned what could have been an over-dramatic presentation into a pleasant performance.