SHE’S A DIRTY, DIRTY GIRL

30. July 2011 by admin.

F. J. Hartland

Tormented by memories of her brother, Edna stops bathing in an attempt to take control of her life in the Pittsburgh premiere of The Mistakes Madeline Made, the second summer offering from No Name Players.

Elizabeth Meriwether’s odd script is peppered with memorable characters, and director Marci Woodruff more than meets the challenge of this peculiar play!  Not only does the play move along at an excellent pace, but Woodruff has gotten top-notch performances from her cast.

Woodruff and No Name give The Mistakes Madeline Made a very professional looking production. 

 Nick Coppula’s massive set fills the stage of the Studio Theatre in the Cathedral of Learning.  It is also nicely appointed and detailed (and contains a surprise or two).  Coppula’s lighting is not quite as successful as there are dark spots.

As Edna, Liz Roberts starts off very unsympathetically—but she plays a full arc of emotions and will bring you to tears by the time the lights fade.

John Feightner shines in multiple roles as Edna’s various paramours.  He creates three very distinctive (and obnoxious) characters.

Todd Betker gives one of the finest performances of his career thus far as Edna’s brother—and he plays most of it from inside an old-fashioned claw foot bathtub.  Betker portrays the shell-shocked war correspondent on the edge of madness with great sensitivity and flair.

In the role of Beth, Edna’s boss, Tressa Glover is both funny—and frightening.  Glover maneuvers her desk chair adeptly all while spouting such catch phrases as “”nuff said.”

The highlight of this stellar cast is Don DiGiulio as Wilson, Edna’s quirky co-worker  He brings high energy and great humor to the production…and then brings real warmth and pathos to the play’s conclusion.  DiGuilio plays the role of the lovable geek to the hilt.

It takes a few scenes to get accustomed to the characters and the style of the play.  But once you do, it is a highly enjoyable evening of theatre.

The Mistakes Madeline Made continues through August 13.

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