Porchlight’s Artistic Director, Michael Weber, once again put his impeccable casting abilities on display via a 21-person all-star ensemble that featured great individual performances and exquisite matching of characters, in particular the younger and not younger versions of Sally and Phyllis.
I don’t have room to mention everyone’s wonderful performance (and I do mean everyone), but if the audience reaction, in the way of loud, sustained applause and cheering, is a good measuring stick, then three solos are worth highlighting.
First, near the end of the first act, came Susie McMonagle chewing the scenery, in a good way, while belting I’m Still Here.
Next, in the second act, came Michelle Duffy’s rendition of Could I Leave You? Even as I was relishing her bravura performance, I couldn’t help but wonder whether it would be fun to then have Anthony Rapp, as her husband, enter singing If Ever I Would Leave You, from Camelot.
The third thunderous ovation came for Angela Ingersoll’s emotive performance of Losing My Mind. I was close enough to the stage to see tears coming down her cheeks, which she confirmed for me after the show.
I also would like to mention Stephen Wallem singing The God-Why-Don’t-You-Love-Me-Blues because I love the Blues, and hyphens, and because Wallem’s turn reminded me of John C. Reilly, and that’s a good thing.
Finally a shout out to Teagan Earley, whose sophisticated shoulder moves during her dancing caught my attention. It’s the little things.
Oh, and the 12-piece band was terrific.