A rocking, shocking holiday farce written by Jeff Daniels has audiences howling with laughter at Chelsea’s Purple Rose Theatre.
“Norma & Wanda” is not your typical seasonal fare, but it is very, very funny, and surprisingly dark.
Happy (if high strung) Norma is just trying to enjoy her settled life and her favorite season, Christmas. Norma is contrasted by her narcissistic, foulmouthed, crash-and-burn sister, Wanda, who has chosen Norma’s house as a rendezvous point with an old boyfriend … against Norma’s wishes, and for very underhanded reasons.
Annoying, tightly wound neighbor Mary Sue drops by and invites herself in to help make baked goods, and soon, Wanda’s dangerous ex, Paulie, appears, and the problems begin increasing quickly when the ladies learn things have gone very wrong.
It’s hard to summarize without giving away any of the many, many frenzied twists – just when you think it can’t get wilder or more tense, it does – but this is one of the boldest, weirdest, most gonzo comedies you’ll see on any stage soon.
Kristin Shields is great, silly fun as Norma, and seeing her character grow and change over the course of one afternoon is impressive. As the catalyst character, Wanda, Jamie Elvey embodies human disaster with a ferocious performance. Scene stealer Kate Thomsen is an absolute scream as nattering Mary Sue, who … learns many things about herself during the production. Henrí Franklin scores a number of the show’s biggest laughs as the utterly ludicrous Paulie, one of the more memorable characters in recent theater.
Jon Bennett does some seriously unhinged comedic work as a local man who pays a visit. Appearing late in the show, the imposing Matt Bogart brings thunder and threat as Norma’s demanding husband, Mel. It’s a hoot watching him make a buffoon of himself.
This cast gels very well onstage, whipped into polished chaos by director Rhiannon Ragland, with a major assist from fight director Christina Traister. There are moments where you seriously think one of the actors might actually get injured for real. Mario Raymond’s soft, sitcom-esque lighting shows off Sam Transleau’s comfy set nicely. Matt Tibbs’ sound design is a nice, subtle but thoughtful touch.
Those looking to get an early jump on the Yuletide season have a real champ of chance with “Norma & Wanda,” a play that deserves to also be a film. You’ve got until Dec. 21 to check it out.
The Purple Rose Theatre is located at 137 Park St., Chelsea. Standard tickets are $50; military, veterans and teachers are $50 and tickets $30 for ages 30 and under. This production contains very adult language and subject matter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jeff Daniels’ wild, wacky ‘Norma & Wanda’ draws belly laughs at Purple Rose Theatre
Reporting by Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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