Mainstage 3

Robinson was a solid rom-com lead balancing a flustered side dealing with Ivan and her more sensible side dealing with everyone else. The book by Jeffrey Lane seemed to squeeze these characters in together quickly for the sake of the story but Cleveland kept the show at an appropriate pace that was both energetic and thoughtful to each character. The story may sound convoluted but ultimately all the facets fell into place. Lucia employs attorney Paulina (Kelly Holmes) to sue Ivan for money but she has intentions of her own. Add Marissa (Jackie Pock Gibbons) to the mix who’s frustation with her fiance Carlos (Robert Mata) is more than evident. Pepa’s friend and fashion model Candela (Lexi Nieto) is navigating her own love life with an ideal man who just may be a terrorist.

While Pepa spends the play reacting to a message from Ivan, his ex-wife Lucia (Sara Shelby-Martin) is determined to have the last word. Primarily centered on Pepa (Molly Robinson), the focus is on the relationships of the titular women often with the same man, Ivan (Daniel Evan Memmott Jr.). The show makes a colorful impressions with Wendy Searcy-Woode’s artful Lichtenstein-esque set of panels that reveal element of the story but also works as entrances and platforms that look out toward a distant skyline of buildings.

But director BJ Cleveland, music director Kelley Poche Rodriguez and the cast created a quirky glimpse into 1980s Madrid. The songs aren’t quite your typical showtunes and the story, based on the Pedro Almodovar film of the same name, doesn’t have the highest stakes. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was such an odd musical and yet completely charming.

The cast of MainStage’s ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.’ (Photo by Kris Ikejiri via Facebook)Ī strange bunch of fabulous Women at Mainstage ILC