Artfully Edmonds review: Dan dances in as The Phoenix improves on Broadway

The Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave.
Firdale Village

Last night I was in the audience as The Phoenix Theatre opened its holiday production to a packed house of loyal fans and fresh faces. On the marquee was “Hallelujah Girls” by Jesse Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. The play opens as five girlfriends from small town Georgia file into a littered abandoned church after the funeral of one of their own. A transformation of the church into a salon and spa is about to take place as character Sugar Lee Thompkins (played by Melanie Calderwood) divulges her plans to convert the Civil War-era church into a salon and spa.

Using their trademark comic relief, The Phoenix Theatre improved on the set change modis, which converted the set from church to spa by using a little soft shoe by Dan Jacoby. It worked, and gained Jacoby the first applause of the evening as company members hustled around the dancing master-of-comedy and “Spa-Dee-Dah” took shape with Dolly Parton’s song “Nine-to-Five” playing in the background.

“I’m sure that in the Broadway production they used casters and automation to make the transition. It would have been a long silent set change without Arin Larson’s inspiration that we do something a little different to convert the church,” admitted director Christina Mosere as she greeted well-wishers during intermission. (Larson is handling costume design for “Hallelujah Girls”.)

But the clever set change wasn’t the only surprise of the evening. In the flamingo pink and Caribbean teal salon, calls come in on a bright red telephone in the shape of lips, so that when the receiver is replaced, the audience is staring at a ridiculous “mouth piece.” And, not to add spoilers to this review, you’ll be quite surprised to learn just what unlikely “spirited” secret has been entombed in the basement of the Southern church since the days of Sherman’s March through Georgia.

The cast was well-matched in skill, and costumed to professional standards by Arin Larson. Of particular note were Larson’s wardrobe selections for arch-rival to Sugar Lee – Bunny Sutherland (played by Marie Dodds). Bunny swooped in draped in stylish scarves, Junior League ensembles, and purses I wanted to snatch from the wardrobe dolley. But nothing could possibly top the outrageous “get-ups” of Crystal (played by Vicki Lynn Maxey), who celebrated every holiday “in style”. And, you can never go wrong dressing Susan Connors (Mavis) in cowgirl boots! Kudos to Larson for costume design.

Marie Dodds delivers one of many cutting remarks when she offers the style smack down of the evening to Susan Connors while eyeing her frenemies’ Navajo jewelry, western shirt, and boots, “I always wondered what outfit I wouldn’t be caught dead in . . . and now I know!” The audience howled.

Davine Sholdez did a marvelous job playing long-suffering, jilted Carlene. Her lines were smoothly delivered and it’s obvious she’s quite comfortable following the theatre life.

Victoria Lewis, cast as Nita, had my heart with her tangled, long drawn-out synopsis of books she had read, which seemed to match the drama-du jour. Authors looking for material – take note!

Jim Thompson showed off his years of talent playing Bobby Dwayne, spurned years earlier by Melanie Calderwood’s character. Pairing those two was perfect casting particularly in the pregnant pause scene when neither one is going to take a chance, swallow their pride and make amends for the past. Both comedians used impeccable timing in delivering their mugs and lines.

“Hallelujah!” this production came to town.

Hallelujah Girls plays through Sunday, Dec. 21. For tickets, visit The Phoenix Theatre online box office or call the box office at 206-533-2000.

— By Emily Hill