Playwright’s warmth on display

Wendy Wasserstein’s death earlier this year was a blow to American theater – nearly every minute of her 1983 play, “Isn’t it Romantic,” illustrates why.

This funny, thoughtful, ironic (but not exactly romantic) comedy is full of Wasserstein’s warmth and wisdom. This play explores the question that faced many women in the ‘80s and faces many today: Can I be a strong, independent woman and still find love?

Wasserstein never makes this into a polemic. Instead, she creates two living, breathing characters – Janie and Harriet – and illustrates their dilemmas with the maximum possible compassion.

In Wasserstein’s hands, the question of “Can women really have it all?” is not some interesting theoretical debate. It’s a deeply nuanced question packed with tears, hope and heartbreaking choices. In the end, one chooses marriage, while the other, reluctantly and with full knowledge of what she is sacrificing, chooses independence.

This intimate Studio Theatre version, directed by Todd Jasmin, is not the most polished and well-rehearsed version you’re likely to see. On opening night, the scene changes went on too long, stage business was awkward and some performances came off as just a shade on the stiff and nervous side, especially the two leads, Rebecca McNeill as Janie and Juli Wellman as Harriet.

McNeill’s body language is slouchy, with nervous, fluttering hand movements. This struck me as appropriately Janie-like, and it worked in most scenes. However, McNeill tended to use the same mannerisms no matter the scene, even at the end when Janie proves to be strong-minded and confident about her choices.

Wellman nailed the forgiving and affable side of Harriet, but when her sleazy, married boyfriend Paul is being a jerk (which happens a lot), Harriet needs to flash more anger.

The two best performances by far came from the two older women, Evelyn Renshaw as Tasha and Jackie Davis as Lillian, respectively, Janie’s and Harriet’s mothers.

Tasha, a tie-dyed 50-something go-getter, could easily become an annoying and stereotyped aging hippie. Renshaw, bouncing around in leggings, made her into an enjoyable life force.

Lillian could have been a severe, repressed “career woman.” Davis made her into a strong and mostly content woman with a few manageable regrets. As Lillian herself said, if a man should eventually come into her life who might want to share a walk in the park, that would be nice, too.

Renshaw and Davis never telegraphed their reactions too early – they listened carefully and then reacted. It is no coincidence that their scene together is one of the play’s most touching.

The men in the cast – J.P. O’Shaughnessy, Dave Rideout and Jhon Goodwin – acquit themselves well. But make no mistake – this play is really about the women. Kudos to director Jasmin for stepping smoothly into the role of Marty Sterling, aka “Popover Boy,” as a late substitution.

“Isn’t it Romantic” continues through Nov. 11. Call (509) 325-2507 for tickets.