Spreading It Around

The fourth show of Theatre Works 27th season is "Spreading It Around", a new comedy by London D'Arrigo. This light hearted comedy is about Angela Drayton, a wealthy widow living in a retirement community in Florida. When she grows tired of footing the bills and handing out money to her unappreciative children, she and some of the other residents start the S.I.N. (Spending It Now) Foundation, an organization that gives to those really in need. Fearing they will lose their inheritance, her greedy son and his shopaholic wife show up to try to have her committed for incompetence. Turning the tables, Angela shows them just how competent she is, then shows them the door. The show has a surprise twist at the end that will leave you in gales of laughter. Connie Anderson directs the show wonderfully, infusing a high energy with her talented cast.   Connie gives her cast a lot of shtick to do in these roles to keep the audience entertained all night long. She opens the show with "Thank you for being a Friend", the theme song from  "Golden Girls" so you know immediately that you are in Florida. Mark Anderson, her husband designed a gorgeous set while Sharon Charette created the funny costumes for the cast especially comical the wild and crazy outfits for the bitchy daughter-in-law. Rick Cardoza painted the gorgeous outdoor golf-course for the set. The author of the play is from Ontario and is coming to the performance next Saturday night. Hard working stage manager Lydia Mattera keeps the scene changes moving quickly, making the show run smoothly. Mary Concannon is a whirlwind as Angela. She worries about her recently widowed neighbor, Martin and decides to help him get over his wife, Peg's death that they should donate money to people in need. Mary makes Angela an endearing character that the audience comes to care about.  Shelley Whittle has many funny lines as Martin who complains about the old women in the community putting the moves on him by making him dinners with one of the worst ones being meatloaf. (He exclaims "I think that's what killed her husband.) One of his funniest lines is "I want to come back as a dog so I can pee on his leg." He is a stand up comic in real life so he makes his one liners constantly hit their mark.   The comedy is turned up a few notches when her greedy son, Larry and his barracuda of a wife, Traci, show up to try con the older woman. The role of Larry is well played by Tim Delisle. Some of the comic moments include when he is choked by his wife and slapped around. The couple have maxed out their credit cards. Ashley Dougan steals many a scene as the crazed constantly complaining wife. She is excellent in this role, playing a much different character than she did as Samantha, the cat in "Indoor/Outdoor". She shows off her versatility and range as an actress in this show.They misunderstand and think Angela and Martin are having wild sex with each other. Bert Cayer plays Roger, the psychiatrist who turns the tables on the young couple. This is Bert's last show in RI because he just retired and is moving to South Carolina. The show has a surprise ending which will leave you in stitches.  So for a look at a brand new comedy, be sure to catch "Spreading It Around" in Woonsocket. SPREADING IT AROUND (14 to 23 May)  Theatre Works, 142 Clinton Street, Woonsocket,RI  1(401)766-1898 or www.twri.org