Theater: Church Basement Ladies

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No, the Church Basement Ladies is not the name of the band, but is a celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who are employed there. It is a new musical comedy about four distinct characters and their struggles or organize the food and solve the numerous problems of a church in rural Minnesota that is about to undergo changes in 1965. The play is pans a diverse array of subjects through its rural setting. It is a work that has incorporated endearing characters; so much so that the audience feels at peace with them and feels like one of them. This is an inoffensive play that uses down to earth elements to entertain and poke fun at established norms. This is an enjoyable joy ride that will not only amuse you but also leave you with pleasant thought and a sweet after taste. So try and get your hand on the tickets.

In the play, we see characters ranging from the young bride-to-be learning the proper order of things to the elderly matriarch of the going through the motions of handling a record breaking Christmas dinner, a Hawaiian Easter Fund Raiser, the funeral of a dear friend, and last but not the least as a wedding the steamy month of July. Side by side, they debate and share recipes, ward off potential disasters, instruct the young, and also keep the Pastor on course. All this is done with panache and a feeling of thoroughly enjoying each other company. These 'steel magnolias ' of the church are funny, down to earth and have been characterized in such a way that they are recognizable as "one of the crowd". This essentially is a ply about one year in the house of God, with the ladies of the church as key witnesses who see the year unfurl from below the house of God.

The play has an impressive ensemble cast of well known theatre actors, with Janet Paone, as the kitchen matriarch, Greta Grosch as farm wife and jack-of-all-trades, Dorian Chalmers plays 'Mrs Elroy Engelsen, the best cook in the church, among others form a commendable army of performers who carry the play on their experienced shoulders. Moreover, the play attains its streak of comedy through the famous Scandinavian Lutheran humour ous writings of The Lutheran Ladies, Suzann Nelson and Janet Martin. Their most famous work is 'Growing Up Lutheran'. The play scripted by Jessica Zuehlke and has original compostions by Jim Stowell and the composer who gave us the music for the long-running hit musical, 'How to Talk Minnesotan, The musical", has penned the lyrics for the play. This stellar production gives us a play that transcends all the established barriers of musicals and is a step away from the brow beaten paths of today's musicals.

The play is commendable in its scope and daring to be different in its approach. For those who think that the play is a treatise on godliness, have some surprises coming. It is the very antithesis of what an audience thinks they can expect from this dynamic production. It is a play that will leave you hankering for more and is guaranteed to satisfy all your theatrical taste buds. So, go buy your tickets and let the 'Church Basement Ladies', take charge.