I just saw "Savannah Sipping Society," and I feel like I just made four new best friends, and for that reason, I loved this performance now playing at the Off Broadway Palm Theatre in Fort Myers.
The small theater is known for its quaint and sometimes quirky shows and this no doubt is one of them. It's the story of four southern belles drawn together by fate, and Director Paul Bernier has pulled together some of the theater's veteran actresses to make it the best it can be.
This character-driven comedy begins with the four middle-aged women meeting at a gym and realizing it's time to rediscover life, and the show delivers on that discovery, friendship and community.
It was nice to see actress Donna Schulte return to the stage after an absence. She plays the delightful Dot Haigler — she'll tell you how she got the name. Schulte is great at delivering her witty one-liners and funny sayings as a widow who just lost her husband.
Pair her with outstanding veteran actress ML Graham, who has mastered the delivery of the raunchy southern belle with charm and character as Jinx Jenkins and the show just keeps getting better.
Bonner Church is another talented actress who plays Marlafaye Mosley, a self-described hick whose beer-guzzling, butt-scratching husband just left her for a younger woman and you can quickly see where the show is going.
Actress Jenny Smith is also a favorite, and she plays Randa Covington, a woman who has devoted her life to her career and is suddenly left without a job.
All four women have convincingly hit a midlife crisis and realize that starting over isn't easy, but doing so with the support of friends makes it easier.
Their friendship starts at a yoga class but cultivates on Randa's veranda, that's front porch in the south, and the set is very inviting. Hats off to P&P Design who built it.
Their common denominators are loneliness, interrupted lives and unhappiness.
However, go-getter Jinx decides on a whim to become their life coach, and the comical misadventures don't stop throughout this fast-paced comedy.
The performance is more than comedy which makes it endearing. It features real-life struggles that audience members can relate to and it's the show's ability to touch hearts that makes it so endearing.
The two-act play moves and keeps you entertained. So, if you'd like to visit Savannah, Georgia, and make some new friends, you might want to grab a cocktail with these girls who are sure to put a smile on your face and tug at your heartstrings in the process.
Savannah Sipping Society runs through April 13.
Tickets are available online at BroadwayPalm.com or by calling the Box Office at 239-278-4422.
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