06/18/2013
Review of Lipstick Goes on Last
by Hallie Belt*
For a groovy, swingin’ time, go hang out at The Den Theatre to see Lipstick Goes on Last, a 1970s-themed play starring Kathleen Lawlor, well-cast in her role as Meredith, and introducing Richard Pryor, Jr. as James. Touching on alcoholism, overeating, body image, marriage, infidelity, rivalry, denial, closeted homosexuality, insecurity, teenage angst, and an upcoming dance, Lipstick Goes on Last provides its audience with comedy, drama, and musical memories.
Controlling mother and former Miss Beverly Hills (Illinois), Meredith and her sidekick Rita (Ashley J. Dearborn), wife to James, have the same problem: philandering husbands. While Meredith drowns her problems in her flask of alcohol, Ashley drowns hers in Girl Scout cookies, upset that she and her husband aren’t “getting down” but clueless as to why, even though James and his lover Bobby (Ben Nicholson) are practically groping each other right in front of her.
James appears early on, sashaying across the stage in drag, and later, with Bobby, both intoxicated after a night out. Pryor and Nicholson are natural in their roles and naturally funny, providing comic relief to the heaviness of Meredith’s and Ashley’s problems.
Helping to maintain a sense of calm and clarity is Meredith’s curious, sensible teenage daughter Megan (Annamarie Schutt) and her poised, elegant friend Vanessa (Aniyah McCullum), with whom she often confides about the upcoming school dance. And although Meredith’s husband Stan (Guy Wicke, effortlessly tapping into his character) is cheating on her with beauty pageant rival Vicki (Suzy Brack), who happens to be Ben’s wife and Vanessa’s mother, at least Stan is equipped with a backbone, imparting sage advice to both Megan and Meredith about their complicated family dynamic.
Devoted to Girl Scouts and perfection, Vicki grooms Vanessa to follow in her beauty pageant footsteps while sparring with Meredith, as the two exchange insults over bygone beauty-pageant days and present-day circumstances. Vicki remains seemingly unfazed by Meredith, who offers up some zingers. Fortunately, Meredith’s friendship with Rita remains intact, the latter calming her while the two sit together on the couch having a real conversation, with Dearborn shining, especially here, in her character.
In the meantime, there is the upcoming dance and a dress to buy. While Meredith and Megan look for the dress, upbeat dress-shop owners Amelia (Bobbie O’Connor) and Shannon (Sandy Gulliver) seem mesmerized by the former beauty queen and her beauty but end up fawning over Megan, providing her with some real maternal nurturing, while Meredith stays true to form: She remains in her own self-involved world, even while shopping for her daughter’s big night.
Lipstick Goes on Last maintains its energy, keeps its audience interested and curious, conveys relatable situations, delivers laughs, and, perhaps most importantly, reminds us that even during the tough times, we need to hang in there and keep on keepin’ on.
Dates: Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 3:00 p.m. – until June 23, 2013.
The Den Theatre: 1333 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, Illinois (773) 609-2336
Industry night is Thursday. Tickets are only $15.
Writers: Cheryl Thomas, Gary Malinowski, Kathleen Lawlor
Director: David G. Zak
Cast: Kathleen Lawlor, Guy Wicke, Richard Pryor, Jr., Ashley J. Dearborn, Ben Nicholson, Annamarie Schutt, Aniyah McCullum, Suzy Brack, Bobbie O’Connor, and Sandy Gulliver.
Producers: 3 Squares Productions (Kathleen Lawlor, Bobbie O’Connor, Suzy Brack)
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.lipstickgoesonlast.com.
*Hallie Belt is a writer, an editor, and a voice-over in Chicago. For more info, visit www.beltstyles.com.
❝Lipstick Goes On Last,❞ a fierce farce about alternative families, friendships, and fidelity, chock-full of late 70s style had its World Premiere at The Den Theatre in Chicago on May 25, 2013.
