The Women

Life in 1936 oftentimes causes people to think of a country recuperating from the Great Depression.   For a select minority, life was luxurious and fairly easy.  These were the women of the ultra-rich in New York City.  Their lives revolved around their social status and gossip.
In “The Women”, Mary, who is portrayed by Kate Simmons discovers that her husband is having an affair with a sales clerk.   Naturally, the affair is noticed first by her social friends who then inform and advise Mary.   Are these social friends real friends or just gossips who enjoy dramas?
The play was originally written by Claire Booth Luce after overhearing conversations during a visit to a nightclub and was in the powder room.   Naturally, someone’s husband was having an affair. Luce wrote this play revealing each character who has real problems in life, despite their wealth.  Dealing with the timeless difficulties of everyday life, such as infidelity, friendship and gossip, impact everyone’s relationships at some time.  Intermixing humor with the tragedy of adultery is a tricky balancing trick.
In addition to Kate Simmons, others in this intimate social group are Robyn Helwig, Elizabeth Planck, Geana Krajicek, Alisha Delsignore, and Claire Mahoney.   Alternately, humorous and tragic, D. Laureen Pickle as Countess de Lage brought a little different temperament to the play.  As the daughter, Halle Dart, portrayed a confused girl who had to suffer and adjust to decisions made by her parents.   She showed that just because the choices were made, she did not have to completely agree with it.  As Mary’s mother, Denise Putman became a caring parent who also had input into the marriage.  Crystal, the other woman, was wonderfully portrayed by Mary Trecek.  Also, one of my favorites in the play was Stephanie Kidd as many humorous characters.
“The Women” is directed by Brenda Smrdel with Amanda Charles completing her job as stage manager.  Many others contributed both on stage and off to successfully create this unusual play of only women in “The Women.”
“The Women” continues through this weekend, November 16th-18th, at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.   Tickets cost $20 for adults, $16 for seniors over the age of sixty and $10 for students.   Tickets can be purchased by contacting the box office at 712-323-9955, e-mail the theater box office at chanticleertheater@gmail.com, or at the theater’s box office thirty minutes before the curtain opens.   The location of the theater is 830 Franklin Ave. in Council Bluffs.
The show is adult oriented and lasts about two and a half hours with a fifteen minute intermission.
This weekend would be the perfect time for this timeless story with a lesson about the effects of malicious gossip on every person, whether the speaker, listened, and even those who overhear those words.