Review: 'Ripcord' at Seven Angels Theatre

(l to r) Peggy Cosgrave, Jovan Davis and Marina Re Photo by Paul Roth

Dedicated to my father Austin N. Sasso on Veteran's Day

Waterbury, CT - Seven Angels Theatre’s second mainstage show of the season is David Lindsay-Abaire’s play, RIPCORD.

The play is an entertaining story of two elderly women thrown together as roommates in a senior living facility. A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, so when the cantankerous Abby is forced to share her quarters with new-arrival Marilyn, she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary.

There is plenty of comedy when a seemingly harmless bet between the old women quickly escalates into a dangerous game of one-upmanship. Things get serious when the wager reveals not just the tenacity of these worthy opponents, but also deeper truths that each would rather remain hidden. In case you are wondering, the significance of the title is quickly revealed in the first of several surprises.

What made RIPCORD at 7A especially memorable were the fine performances by each and every member of the small cast. The transitions between scenes involving white curtains were cheeky and so entertaining that we began to look forward to seeing what the next one would bring.

Peggy Cosgrave, an Equity member who holds the distinction of being a professional actor for 50 years, played Marilyn. This spunky performer began her career in A LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT with Helen Hayes in 1971 and in 1985 was nominated for the first Helen Hayes Award for her portrayal of Chic in Crimes of the Heart. She performed in the production of RIPCORD at Shadowlands Stages and put plenty of energy into her character of the always cheerful senior citizen.

Equity actress Marina Re (SECOND CHANCES) returned to Seven Angels to play the role of Abby. This veteran actress made the long-time resident of the facility just mean enough without crossing the line to a point where the audience would not care if she lost the wager.

Equity member Ben Paul Williams played Derek, the son in law of Marilyn. Ben Paul received his actor training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and holds a degree in Philosophy and Performance from Cornell University. Equity membership candidate Jovan Davis was extremely likeable in the role Jonny, a worker at the facility and upcoming actor. Mr. Davis is an actor, writer, and theatre artist based in Brooklyn, NY.

Ed Rosini appeared in the second act in the role of Benjamin. This Equity membership candidate is a Jersey boy born and raised, though he left briefly to study drama at Tufts University. Julia Register, another Equity candidate, gave a raucous performance in the role of Marilyn’s grown daughter Colleen in her Seven Angels debut.

“It’s just like life. You get shoved out into nothingness. Then it’s a long terrifying free fall to certain death. Which is why you gotta pull the ripcord, baby! Slow yourself down and look around while you can.”

Director Brendan Burke is in his fourteenth season as artistic director of Shadowland Stages. He directed this group with an eye for both the wacky comedy and the more touching and surprising moments. He notes is his director’s letter that the play deals with the emotions of anger and fear that can lead to a “very ugly place.”

Joshua Christensen designed a set that was given a seal of approval by the school nurse that accompanied me to the performance. St. Mary’s Hospital was given a “Special Thanks” shoutout in the program. The uncredited costume design included some pretty unusual ensembles, all of which worked well. The audio by sound designer Jeff Knapp worked well in the space when executed by sound engineer Matt Martin.

Because I have been reviewing everything at Seven Angels for a very long time, I tend to forget how lucky we are to have an affordable Equity theatre in nearby Waterbury. After the curtain call for RIPCORD, my fellow members of the Connecticut Critics Circle agreed that 7A consistently delivers an entertaining production and this show is no exception.

The restaurant Amalfi’s provided the yummy Italian food for the opening night reception that followed the Saturday evening performance. The 7A lobby is filled with a wide variety of offerings for their annual silent auction. I also spotted WATR’s darling Barbara Davitt, community theatre actress Michelle Gotay, City Hill MS English teacher Lisa Leonard and the indifagible photographer Gary Rosengrant.

Ripcord runs through December 2. (No performances on Thanksgiving). Tickets range from $42 to $55 depending on performance. Group are welcome. (Contact Box Office for special ticket prices). Special food and drink nights are also available. Shows run from Thursday through Sunday. Matinees at 2 PM and Evenings at 8 PM. Doors and Devil’s Corner Bar open 1 hour before the show. Plenty of Free Parking. Just off I-84.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle.She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.