Cape theater: Ephrons' 'Love, Loss and What I Wore' cleverly unpacks women's experiences

SANDWICH ― Not one word rings untrue in “ Love, Loss and What I Wore ,” written by sisters Nora and Delia Ephron to describe common experiences of girls growing into women.

But there are a lot of words ― and not much physical action ― in the 90-minute, one-act play.

The five actresses in the Sandwich Arts Alliance production do a fine job, especially in capturing the rhythm of women friends almost-but-not-quite stepping on each other’s conversations as they excitedly build on each other’s stories.

It mirrors how many women communicate, an unpacking of experiences: If you know, you know.

“Love, Loss and What I Wore” is written as a series of vignettes hung on a clothesline grouped into everything from favorite outfits of childhood to wedding dresses.

The women, all dressed in black, sit on folding chairs with their mostly memorized scripts balanced on the black music stands in front of them – like a Greek chorus expounding and explaining to supplement the storytelling.

The show: Written by Nora and Delia, two of four Ephron sisters, based on Ilene Beckerman’s 1995 book of the same name; first produced in 2008. In Sandwich, directed by Melinda Gallant.

What it’s about: Most of the stories are funny ― some laugh out loud funny ― but there are also tragic moments such as the story about one of the characters donating all her miniskirts after someone broke into her apartment and raped her. It is a concise exploration of how even she believed that tired old myth about acts of sexual violence being sparked by how a woman dressed; she never felt free again to dress for herself.

Highlights of the production: The play’s conceit is that the narrator, Gingy, has drawn all of her remembered outfits on long sheets of paper. The designs were actually sketched by 14 “Dress Artists,” although Janet Geist Moore as narrator Gingy, gives a quick and fun lesson ― right out of a magazine art school ad ― on how to draw your dresses.

Although the quintet of actresses ― Moore, Cathy Ode, Liz Liuzzi, Kim LaJoie and Karen Henderson ― are all more than up to the job, Moore seems to especially embody Nora Ephron, born in NYC to a Jewish family. Moore’s accent and demeanor are perfect.

One point to consider: Even well-acted as this production is, “Love, Loss and What I Wore” puts some heavy demands on one’s attention span because story after story is told with minimal interaction between the actors. It didn’t help that the beautiful auditorium on the second floor of the historic Sandwich Town Hall was a little warm and stuffy on opening night.

See it or not? I enjoyed it as a travelogue of fashion and feelings growing up in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

If you go: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17-May 26; $25 general admission, Sandwich Historic Town Hall, 130 Main Sr., www.sandwichartsalliance.org

Gwenn Friss

Harwich Junior Theatre's updated 'Princess and the Pea' is hilarious and heart-warming

HARWICH ― The childhood fairytale “Princess and the Pea'' may evoke thoughts of a prince on the quest to find his true princess; the one who can feel the pea under a heaping pile of mattresses.

But this revamped production at the Harwich Junior Theatre is cooking up something much different. The prince’s true love interest is the art of preparing a savory dish.

When his world collides with the musician, Prin, the cliché of happily ever after ending in love is overthrown by a more realistic, hilariously told version of following your passion until you reach your happiness.

And that pea may be the answer to everything after all.

The show: “Princess and the Pea” is a new comedy by Kristen Stewart, with original music by Fionn Pina Parker.

What it’s about: Prince Francis’s birthday is tomorrow, and the royal prophecy awaited by his parents may not be what they think. While the queen and king are preparing for the coming of his princess, the prince is concerned about the missing ingredient for his special recipe. His parents believe the kitchen is no place for a prince, but he’s been learning in secret from Chef Paolo for two years. Cooking the family meals, even beginning to make his own surprise birthday party cake when a chance of fate lands a musician, Prin, in the kitchen. As he cannot reveal his identity to her, they both end up telling a lie that lands them in way over their heads. The prince is now “Chef Frank,” and Prin is left to finish making the birthday cake alone because of her “experience” baking when he is swept up to attend the party. Chef Paolo’s young daughters, Juliette and Emilia, come to her rescue, only to stir things up even more, to end up with a smashing result.

Highlights of the show: The entire cast was wonderful.

Bob Williamson, as the king, and Connie Chan, as the queen, are a riot together. Their expectations of the prince were ironic since the queen ran the kingdom while the king preferred gardening. Williamson’s nonchalant attitude blended perfectly with the outspoken Chan for a great performance.

The Chambermaids played by Janie Newton, Addison Wilda, and Emily Murray were hilarious, whether they were falling into a human mattress sandwich, getting their head stuck in a ladder or even just passing by to set the tablecloth, every second was amusing.

Phoebe Schuessler, as Juliette, and Mae Dower, as Emilia, stole the show. Only in second and third grade, their enthusiasm and wittiness make it hard to not smile or laugh at every appearance and they sure do have some tricks up their sleeves.

One more thing: Violet Hellstrom, as Prince Francis, and Maureen O’Neill, as Prin, share a passion for acting that shines through in their performance. Whether they portray the desire to be accepted as a chef or to find a place as a musician, the eagerness within them is undeniable.

See it or not: Definitely. It’s a production that is amusing for the whole family.

Worth noting: Artistic Director Jenn Pina is asking the community for help with volunteers, auditioners and donations for the Cape Cod Harwich Junior Theatre Company. Contact the theater if you want to get involved.

Tickets and showtimes: 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through June 9. Cape Cod Harwich Junior Theatre Company, 105 Division St., West Harwich, 508-432-2002, capecodtheatrecompany.org /. Tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for seniors, and 18 for youth under 21.

Ambermae Rivard

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape theater: Ephrons' 'Love, Loss and What I Wore' cleverly unpacks women's experiences