A humorous look at being a bridesmaid

Gerardo Helguero

What happens in the time prior to those silly group wedding pictures

we’ve all seen?

We laugh along with the funny experiences that lead to that

photographic moment in the play “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress”

by Alan Ball, produced by Glendale Community College Theatre Arts

Department in the Studio Theatre.

In the upstairs bedroom of a house during a wedding reception in

Knoxville, Tenn., are five women dressed in worst-case scenario

bridesmaid dresses. It is an engaging glimpse into the lives of these

women as they recall old boyfriends, childhood, and friendship.

They are there to escape the pressures of socializing at the party

by passing the time away gossiping and they even have a few

meaningful conversations in the process.

Among the six characters in the play, Frances (Robin Silvera) is

overly worried and chirpily happy -- a ball of confusion. Silvera

gives Frances a nervous energy that cries out for consoling.

Georgeanne, played by Meghan Parks, also stands out because she is

probably the silliest character after having a few too many drinks.

Parks has a scene where she wobbles on an exercise machine that is

reminiscent of the physical antics of Lucille Ball.

To balance out the silliness, there is Meredith (Pamela

Eberhardt), a cynic about relationships on the outside, but who is

warmer inside because she still believes there is hope.

Though the dialogue has a few expletives scattered throughout, it

is still enjoyable and well worth seeing.