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’Madness & Mayhem at the Phoenix’

• On stage: The Phoenix Theatre launches their inaugural season with a trio of plays written by women: “From Paris to Main Street,” an unpublished play written in 1921, making its stage debut; “Suppressed Desires,” a satire of trendy psychoanalysis and what happens when lay people try to practice it; and “Fourteen,” a farce depicting a socialite who invites too many guests to dinner. The new theatre troupe makes their home in the former Edge of the World Theatre space at Firdale Village, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds. • Performances: Fridays & Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 1 • Tickets: $18 general, available through brownpapertickets.com; more information by calling 206-533-2000.

CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Edmonds' Phoenix welcomes theatergoers

Opening night of ‘Madness & Mayhem’ show informal, friendly

By Dale Burrows
For The Enterprise

It was like walking into a living room of people you knew and didn't know. Table lamps gave off a soft, friendly lighting, and an out-of-the-way fireplace glowed warm red; both showed close attention to detail and an eagerness to please. If this was the lobby, I had a hunch last Friday's opening night at the Phoenix was as much about getting acquainted as showing what they could do.

I wasn't wrong.

Co-producers Melanie Calderwood and Debbie Palomera titled their first time out "Madness and Mayhem." Judging from the shambles I saw when I interviewed them in the theater a few weeks back, those words apply as much to the place as the performance. One of the painters in the lobby told me he was still touching up an hour before. Stress time? You tell me.

As for "M & M" on paper: comedies, three one acts set in early 20th century America; by, about and, by and large although not necessarily for, women. Featured is "From Paris to Main Street" by Louise Bryant, in its west coast premiere, about a French girl married to World War I G.I. She. forces him to choose: her or disapproving mom. Also included is Susan Glaspell's "Suppressed Desires," how a Freudian groupie wife drives her husband crazy psychoanalyzing him. Finally, Alice Gerstenberg's "Fourteen," tels the tale of a mother-smothered teen who suffocates under her silly, socialite mom's husband-hunting on her behalf. Running time: about an hour.

In performance: Comedienne Calderwood, uncharacteristically, stumbles here and there but not at the cost of that impeccable timing and those inimitable looks that give life and liberty to the pursuit of laughs. She's the Freudian fanatic and wimpy daughter's brow-beating but good-intentioned mom.

Ever-steady and understated Rick Wright playing straight into Calderwood's funny, insinuates himself into your laughing place as the mousey architect bruised and battered by his Freud-clubbing better half. Equally so for Wright as the snooty snob of a butler who sees all, knows all and comments on all -- always wryly, always to comic effect.

Kayti Barnett sparkles as the French joi-de-vivre incarnate, savvier about the world than her socially constipated Yankee mom-in-law can possibly know. Barnett also touches you where you live as the delicate-petaled violet shrinking in overbearing mom's lack of sunlight. This gal's got a future.

Chatty, best girlfriend with nothing to say and no mind of her own, or soldier-son's string-pulling mom, it makes no difference. Kitty Berkley buttresses beautifully. For the ably-done, ordinarily thankless job of playing into principal roles, Berkley; they don't work if you don't, thank you.

Same for Aaron Heinzen's mama's boy, who turns soldier boy, brings his French-hottie, war bride home to turned-off mama. Heinzen makes the spot he's on too hot to stand still. My feet burned.

Director, Christine Mosere gets what there is to get out of the scripts. Much of it is dated.

Opening night at Phoenix was a hopeful sign of good things to come. If they can manage a building makeover, while setting a stage, selecting plays, casting, rehearsing and God knows what else, imagine what they can do when they off-stage business is under control. Break a leg, Phoenix.



Comments? Reactions? E-mail Dale Burrows at entopinion@heraldnet.com or grayghost7@comcast.net.