DIVA ROYALE – Written by Jeff Daniels; Directed by Warren Sherrill, Choreography by Samantha Piel; Fight Choreography by Amy Arpan, Musical Direction by no one (obviously). Produced by Miners Alley Playhouse (1100 Miners Alley, Golden) through November 9th. Tickets available at 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com.
I usually equate honored Director Warren Sherrill with thoughtful, insightful productions that require careful, intelligent guidance to achieve a meaningful lesson. No such requirement for DIVA ROYALE. I can envision rehearsal for this madcap out-of-control performance as being more “What’s the next crazy thing we can do, ladies?”
The pitch: Three Midwestern housewives learn that Celine Dion has a one-night-only concert in New York the next night. On a whim, they decide to go . . . never having been on a plane before, never having been to New York before, never having done anything so reckless before. Needless to say, chaos ensues.
The ladies in this case are comic actors extraordinaire Amy Arpen, Lisa DeCaro, and the rarely seen Emily Paton Davies. If these three didn’t love Celine Dion before, they surely do now. Their pursuit of her elusive self provides them with the framework for this wildly comic evening of fun. On a practically bare stage, they walk (run and jump) the audience through their wild and crazy three-day adventure from inception to return home. You wonder if these three did not bond over Dion, would they have even ever been friends? They have such different personalities. But the question is moot and instead illustrates the power of friendship under trying conditions. It also celebrates the resilience of women and their power to make lemonade out of the worst situations.
There is one lone man in their story. Quick-changing Matthew Combs portrays all the men they run into and up against in their little adventure. His versatility in bringing to life a multitude of dodgy characters is spectacular. While the story is about the three women, it wouldn’t have been as funny without the one man.
Miners Alley continues their run of outrageously funny shows for the last couple of years (discounting MISERY, of course). Their bond with the Purple Rose Theatre has given them comic scripts to which they have added their own special brand of wackiness.
You’ve got a few more weeks to catch this show, and you should!!
A WOW factor of 8.75!!