Playwright: Robert Hewett. At: Writers' Theatre, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe. Tickets: 847-242-6000 or www.writerstheatre.org; $45-$65. Runs through: July 29
Who knew that unsubstantiated gossip could be so deadly and destructive? That's one of the driving plot points in Australian playwright Robert Hewett's 2004 comic drama The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, now playing in Writers' Theatre's intimate backroom venue at Books on Vernon in Glencoe.
The other focus of The Blonde… seems to be the point that we're all interconnected in one way or another in our communities and the world at large, whether it's via negative forces like jealousy and treachery, or beneficial ones like compassion or forgiveness.
This interconnectedness can also easily explain Hewett's theatrical gimmick of having all the roles in Blonde… played by one actress alone. Sure, it's an economical device (many a cash-strapped theater company will be grateful) and one that has been proven by shows like Greater Tuna and its many gender-bending sequels. But the structure of The Blonde… also serves to highlight the great storytelling skills of a determined and talented actress.
For the Chicago-area debut of The Blonde…, Writers' Theatre has turned to two Wisconsin theatrical stalwarts who have previously collaborated on the show in 2008 at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Director Joseph Hanreddy and star Deborah Staples have reconceived the show to fit in the more-intimate Books on Vernon venue, and the transformations are amazing.
The Blonde… starts with Rhonda (the vengeful redhead) at a police interrogation explaining some of her reasons for acting out. We then see a variety of people surrounding Rhonda from her less-than-best friend and neighbor, Lynette (the brunette), a lesbian doctor named Alex (who suffers greatly from Rhonda's actions), Rhonda's louse of a husband, Graham, and the Russian blonde, Tanya, the supposed temptress in the whole messy matter.
Staples does an amazing job transforming herself from character to character onstage and in full view of the audience. Staples is aided to no end by the great production work of wig designer Lara Dalbey, costumer Martha Hally, and set designer Linda Buchanan who provides a number of opening closet nooks to allow for the leading lady to change and establish who the character is that she's playing.
Part of the joy of watching The Blonde… is piecing together the relationships between all the people Staples portrays and deciphering the various versions of what led up to and the aftermath of the misbegotten attack. Staples and Hanreddy do a great job of keeping the audience rapt through the many changes and shifts in characters like a parade of helpful and dubious storytellers.
Although it's just one actress playing all the roles in The Blonde…, you do get to learn about a whole community of people tied together through a tragic event that didn't have to happen.