BACKSTAGE WEST

Joni and Gina's Wedding  
October 26, 2005 
By Wenzel Jones 
 
This lesbian variation on the classic "let's pretend" version of nuptials followed by a reception is as fine a way to spend an afternoon as any and comes with the bonus of meeting a lot of lovely people who, alas, are not real and therefore not available for the traditional follow-up phone call so the whole thing can be rehashed the next day. The story, a group effort by Marianne Basford, Ann Lippert and David Pavao, has just enough devices tucked in to keep things interesting without becoming ridiculously over-plotted.

The "best woman," Maureen (a solid Allie Rivenbark), is still carrying a torch for one of the brides; Gina's father (Daryl Burq Pearson, crisply delightful), a Marine general, is certain his daughter is just going through a phase; and Joni's very orthodox sister Rivkah (Kim Anton, in a festively dour turn) is out of place until her eye falls on her delectable soon-to-be brother-in-law Joe (Nick Ballard, who gives eye candy character). Alex Garner is a queeny delight as Rychard, maid of honor and de facto wedding planner. The large cast is consistently good and passed with flying colors in the categories of drawing recalcitrant audience members into the show and telling the same story when making the requisite small talk. The brides are Gina Armstrong, a military daughter (Jessica Hopper) and Joni Gottlieb, a Jewish sports enthusiast (Lowe Taylor). They are a comely pair, and as the event progresses they turn out to be fine songbirds, as well. In the role of Gina's mother, Carolynn LaRocca is sweet and, at times, a bit heartbreaking as a dipsomaniacal military wife. When asked why her children looked so markedly different, for instance, she gave a wan little smile and a vague, "Well, my husband was away so often..." before drifting off for a refill.  
The duties of the minister were discharged by that sine qua non of gay events of late, Alison Arngrim, who makes a merrily bohemian, goddess-friendly Ministress Pat Miass of St. Cyril on the Hedgehog. The divorced Gottliebs (Rebecca Michaels and Tom F. Evans) and his flashy girlfriend, Wamsetta (Tonya Harris), ably provide the bickering, misbehavior, and karaoke without which no reception can be considered complete.