Suli Holum and Rami Margron in HURRICANE DIANE at People’s Light until May 19th. Photo by Mark Garvin.
By Ellen Wilson Dilks
Malvern’s People’s Light Theatre continues their current season with a production of HURRICANE DIANE by Madeleine George (Only Murders In The Building). It runs now through May 19th on the company’s Leonard C. Haas Mainstage. Under the direction of newly-minted Artistic Associate Molly Rosa Houlihan, audiences are treated to a wild romp that mines laughs out of climate change. Go figure…
At the start we meet Diane—actually the god Dionysus, who’s been laying low for several centuries now. Diane is ready to reclaim her power—and, oh, save the planet—but she needs acolytes. She feels four to start will do the trick, which brings her to a cul de sac in Red Bank, NJ in the guise of a permaculture gardener. Permaculture is a way of planting that creates a mini- eco-system, thereby restoring the earth’s balance.
The genderbending Diane is played by the uber-charismatic Rami Margron. With an ever-present twinkle in their eye, they win the audience over instantly. Their comedic timing is right on point, and when I read in their bio that they grew up at a circus camp… Ah, that explains the delightful playfulness.
The cul de sac clique of “Desperate Housewives” consists of semi-ringleader Carol—an overstressed woman who wants to have the best yard in the neighborhood. The best traditional yard that is. When she meets with Diane, she is not at all on board for permaculture. Unlike Renee, an editor for HGTV Magazine (Carol’s bible). She embraces the concept wholeheartedly. Pam is pure Jersey—tough, mouthy and cynical. She’s also a doomsday prepper, stockpiling gadgets to keep the power going and care for her family. Then there’s Beth—a walking wounded. Her husband’s walked out on here and she has no idea what to do. Her overgrown yard is driving the others nuts. It sort of represents the mess of her life right now as well.
Diane decides this is the group to work her magic on and get her acolytes. She starts with Carol, but strikes out. Beth becomes her first “victim,” seduced both figuratively and literally. Then Renee folds. Pam holds out for a bit , but succumbs when Diane promises her the Italian palazzo look she dreams of. Carol….well, just go and see.
Rami Margron and Teri Lamm in HURRICANE DIANE at People’s Light. Photo by Mark Garvin
The story unfolds on the smart looking modern kitchen set by Grizele Gonzalez. It’s airy, with openings showing hedges that run along the upstage. The ladies of the cul de sac each carry a different vase of flowers that they place on the kitchen counter to designate whose home the group is in. Ebony M. Burton lights the action well, and creates great special effects for a storm late in the play. A terrific female-centric pastiche of pre-show alt-rock gets the audience in the mood—the work of Caroline Eng. Eng then layers nice underscoring and special effects in throughout the play. Costuming is the creation of Camilla Dely, with each ensemble speaking volumes about the wearer. Eli Lynn serves as the Intimacy Choreographer and Benji Goldsmith has composed original music for the piece.
Houlihan has paced the production well, allowing space where needed and heightening the action in the appropriate spots. While the actors seem to have been given the space to create, one sees the deft directorial touches. The five actresses inhabit their roles to a tee. As I wrote at the beginning of this article, Rami Margron is terrific. The other four are perfect as well. Teri Lamm nails that type-A personality every group seems to have. And then shows us a woman who is a bundle of nerves when Diane starts trying to get close. Lamm excels at this. Julianna Zinkel perfectly captures the blame game many of us go through during a divorce. She makes it all delightfully funny though. As uber-business woman Renee, Shauna Miles hits just the right notes. Intense and oh so corporate. Last, but most definitely not least, is Suli Holum as Pam. Holum nails the quintessential Jersey girl—brash, very rough around the edges (and in the middle, for that matter). She’s “Married to the Mob” with some Teresa Guidice thrown in. (I kept waiting for her to flip a table.) It is a hilarious performance. The comedic timing of the entire company is excellent; every joke is landed and the laughs are grounded in truth.
Part fantasy, part farce HURRICANE DIANE uses laughter to remind us that our planet’s resources are quickly being destroyed by man’s action. I’ve always felt comedy is the best way to make your point, and George’s play delivers it in spades. (Pun intended?)
WHEN YOU GO: HURRICANE DIANE is performing on the Leonard C. Haas Stage at People’s Light—39 Conestoga Road (Route 401), Malvern, PA 19355. Performances are Tuesdays thru Sundays now until May 19th, 2024. This production is recommended for ages 17+ due to explicit sexual content.
Running Time is approximately 100 minutes with NO intermission.
Special Events: There will be a Relaxed Performance on Sunday May 12th at 2pm, the Audio Description performance is also on this date. Open Captioning will be available May 14th to the 19th. The American Sign Language Interpretation performance will be on the 12th at 2pm.
People’s Light is fully handicapped accessible. There is plenty of free, off-street parking and the Farmhouse Bistro serves dinners prior to curtain. For additional information and background on HURRICANE DIANE, patrons can call the Box Office at 610-644-3500, or visit the company’s website at www.peopleslight.org
COVID PROTOCOLS: Masks ARE NOT REQUIRED AT THIS TIME. The CDC may change its protocols, so go prepared.