Leading Ladies
Reviewed by David Kashimba
Photo by Eric Chazankin

 When two Shakespearean actors do a collage of Shakespeare plays at the Elks Club in Scranton, PA, even they have to admit: “We’re at the bottom, rock bottom. I can feel my ass scraping on the stones.” Leo (Shad Willingham) and Jack (Dan Saski) are willing to try anything in order to make a little money so when they hear about a rich old woman (Shirley Nilsen Hall) searching for two long lost English relatives, they decide to play the parts of these nephews that hadn’t been seen since they were children. When they find out that the nephews are actually nieces, they’re so desperate that they take on the added challenge and break into their Shakespearean wardrobe for women’s costumes.

As you probably guessed by now, Leading Ladies, by Ken Ludwig, is a comedy and one that will keep you laughing from beginning to end. Ludwig, author of Lend Me a Tenor and Moon over Buffalo, once again has many comic twists and turns in this northern California premier at Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse. But each twist builds on the last and we find ourselves laughing harder and harder. Under the direction of Sheri Lee Miller, who is beginning to earn herself a reputation in cross gender comedy, the action is flawless.

Six foot five inch Shad Willingham has played with the Oregon Shakespeare Company in Ashland for many years and does a great job portraying a very tall woman in Leading Ladies. Dan Saski recently played over 30 characters in 6th Street’s recent production Fully Committed. Together they form a great comedy team as both men and women.

For tickets or more information about this very entertaining show call (707) 523-4185 or visit www.6thstreetplayhouse.com.

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