Arts & Entertainment Compass

“How Not to Fund a Honeymoon” By Stephanie Greenwood and directed by Katie Devin Orenstein

Show Produced by Very Rascals & Feuille Dooley Productions Productions

Part of the Manifestival Signature Series at the Paradise Factory produced by Diamond Mesh


Starring

Stephanie Greenwood as Aunt Robyn

Claire Feuille as Charlie

Tabitha Bradley as Gwen




I love it when a plan comes together! And I love it even more when that plan falls apart! This cute little comedy “How Not to Fund a Honeymoon” was written by and starring Stephanie Greenwood. The only mystery we are trying to solve is “What the Hell Happened here?” This story is more of a “Why” than a “Who”-Done-It. Turns out the real culprit of this little play was the crushing weight of financial strain on those young people trying to find their footing in an ailing economy.


Charlie and Gwen are convinced that the only way they’ll be able to afford a luxurious Honeymoon to the Maldives would be to rob their relative Robin blind while she is out of town. Unfortunately for them, Robin was lying about her vacation to Corfu, and catches them in the act of breaking into her mansion. During most of the play we are trying to piece together what might have happened to the conniving lesbians to force them into such drastic action.


Aunt Robin then proceeds to report the sticky situation to the authorities, and we as audience get the treat of having actresses Claire and Tabitha come back as bumbling senior and junior level coppers. I have to applaud the production for using the cheapest, most problematic sticker paste on mustaches, which opened up a whole new level of hilarious hijinx for these actresses to play. These actresses tackled these secondary comedic roles with gusto and glee. There were hysterics, farce like door swinging, and sight gags here, and I truly feel like this scene gave me the most laughs. My personal favorite comedic struggle moment was Gwen trying to exit the theatre with a gigantic whiteboard in tow. Some of Claire’s best moments onstage this evening were in the more serious and understated masculine body language as this minor character, the police chief. Claire’s solid
approach to the scene allowed Tabitha’s frenzy to shine in contrast.

Applause is due as well to Director Katie Devin Orenstein, whose gracious and friendly presence giving the curtain speech set us all up for a successful invitation into the space. I’m absolutely certain that Katie could have played any one of these roles. I believe we have
her to thank for most of these belly laughs!


Stephanie Greenwood’s dialogue had a beautiful cadence, very natural, and I was immediately entranced by her lovely accent. I think her
insistence on setting a brisk pace for the comedy caught up with her once or twice when she stumbled over her own phrasing or jokes. I can’t wait to hear how the run of her next show  “Relative Motion” goes in London.


I think actresses Claire and Tabitha had excellent chemistry in their scenes together, however I did doubt somewhat the loving nature of their relationship. I’m not sure if I needed more intimacy, but I did question why these women had fallen this far down the slippery slope of moral high ground.


I was not alone in feeling that the initial break-in scene (where Charlie and Gwen palm a big rock, drag their feet on perpetrating their crimes, and debate the seriousness of their moving forward with
the heist) lacked forward thrust, and slowed down the action. Finally, I heard that the last scene was being workshopped right up until our performance, and I think the production has definitely found the correct ending, bringing the action into a nice tight little circle, closing the loop.