From
November 2005 issue of DIVAS Magazine, Vol. 5 Issue 54
By Elizabeth Vargas
Joni and Gina’s
Wedding!
A comedy/play
about families that makes you feel better about your
own!
Well, if all the world is a stage, Joni and Gina’s
Wedding takes the cake (wedding cake that is…). I never
expected an afternoon at a theatrical production could
be so fun. I entered El Cid on Sunset Blvd. (the venue
where the “wedding” takes place) on an early afternoon
with partner in tow. We made our way to the bar with
the other curious folks who were having a few cocktails,
waiting for the show to begin. Actually, the show had
already begun; we just didn’t realize it!
Members
of the cast were interspersed with the crowd. They
carried on impromptu conversations with the audience to
get everyone in the spirit of the event, and soon the
audience felt as if they were actually attending a
family wedding. The wedding planner and “Man of Honor”
(Alex Garner) ran around like crazy, trying to get the
wedding party into their correct places. One of the
mothers of the bride (Carolynn LaRocca) spent her time
having a “few” too many martinis at the bar. The
orthodox Jewish sister (Kim Anton) of one of the brides
expressed her guilt for attending the affair with anyone
who would listen. In addition to these, a dozen other
interesting stories unfolded before the wedding even
began.
Before
we knew it, the wedding was about to commence and we
were led into the “wedding chapel”. If the band of
dysfunctional family and “family” members wasn’t
outrageous enough on the outside patio bar, even more
fun began when we were seated!
This was one hilarious and enjoyable show. The cast of
characters were so twistedly believable, and it quickly
became obvious the cast members truly loved what they
were doing. From ex’s unexpected announcements to
ringing cell phones, interruptions of the nuptials were
just part of this zany kaleidoscope of humor that kept
you guessing if this wedding was even going to be
allowed to happen.
Alison
Arngrim (Little House on the Prairie’s Nellie Oleson)
played the "Ministress" of ceremonies, Pat Miass. Her
Ministress was a peace loving, everything in the
universe is beautiful, Greenpeace/Save the Whales, make
you want to get a crystal and put it on your forehead
kind of priestess. And she was not the only star in this
cast of hysterically funny performers.
Every one of the characters in this exquisite show makes
it what it is: A truly fun, three-ring circus that has
the audience only wanting to come back for more. DIVAS
Magazine gives it – 5 STARS.
Congratulations to Marianne Basford and Ann Lippert for
creating such a great event that everyone in our
community should see. They have really touched at the
heart of the heavily debated topic of gay marriage, yet
(as with any family wedding) the bottom line is that it
really is all about love.
