Rareworks has successfully managed to enthrall the Emerson community time and time again with powerful performances that prove plays do not need to be high-budget spectacles, typified by numerous Broadway productions (See most recently: Legally Blonde: The Musical). Nick Murphy holds to this belief as he directs Rareworks newest production: Five Women Wearing the Same Dress. Originally directed by the college s own Melia Bensussen (Department of Performing Arts Director and Professor) for its 1993 opening, this is truly a full-circle moment as the show is prepared for its Emerson debut.Searching for a feminine script to submit for directing, Murphy sought advice from Emerson Professor Maureen Shea, who directed last year s Emerson Stage production of Carol Churchill s Top Girls. He describes how she helped him come across Alan Ball s Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, which he felt displayed female strength and compassion, but also created a perfect balance of drama and comedy for Murphy and his female cast to work with.The story focuses on five bridesmaids who, in an attempt to ditch a dreaded wedding reception, recount both their fondest memories and most troubling tribulations about the bride (who is never actually seen throughout the show), and eventually about themselves.The promiscuous Trisha (Natalie Beamer), loud, brash and central to the play s momentum, begins Five Women by extracting stories and personal issues from the other bridesmaids. At the center of their many dilemmas is Georgeanne s (Kirin McCrory) failing marriage and her inability to accept rejection from her high-school sweetheart the womanizing Tommy Valentine. After a tryst with the dangerously handsome Valentine, Georgeanne hopes to pursue him at this wedding to help her escape the pains of her own marriage; however, she is devastated to discover him leaving with a scantily clad younger girl. Though all of the women admit they, too, have had romantic encounters with him, Georgeanne is the only one to feel true pain from his rejection and prom dress patterns therefore turns to Trisha for comfort and turquoise dress support.Much of the humor is delivered by the bride s embittered younger sister, Meredith (Rosie Moan, a member of Emerson comedy group Chocolate Cake City). Her sassy and sarcastic one-liners and perfectly timed physical comedy help to lift the tension created by the intensely emotional plot. Likewise, the groom s outspoken and clumsy lesbian sister, Mindy (Abby Rose) creates much-needed comical relief and helps the audience digest some of the tougher emotional moments of Five Women.Murphy hopes to make this version of the show relevant and punjabi dress relatable while still holding its own as a satire of what actually goes on behind closed doors at a wedding reception. He admits the script needed to be updated as much of Ball s writing reflected the pop-culture gags of the early 90s. Revisions to the script have made it more accordant with today s audience.Unabashedly honest, Five Women will stir emotion within the audience and evoke empathy for the bridesmaids strife. But also expect to laugh hard through what is ultimately a touchingsincerely heartfelt production.
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