The Wonder
By Christina Ku
Publication: Show Business Weekly (online)

No one will accuse Susanna Centlivre’s The Wonder of being a stuffy, classical piece. Rife with hilarious melodrama that could easily be avoided with honest communication among the characters (but where would the fun — and plot — be in that?), the show, under Rebecca Patterson’s direction, is a comical romp that is modern without losing any of its intended sensibilities.

Presented by the Queens Company, a women’s classical theater troupe, The Wonder follows a young woman on the run from an arranged marriage. The Queens Company does not wimp out when it comes to casting; our fine actresses are more than capable of cross-dressing and swaggering about, successfully doing away with the need for gender-specific casting. The cast is made up of finely tuned creatures who each play very well off the other’s antics, making for a well-synced and entertaining show. Annie Paul, as the shrewd chambermaid Flora, and Natalie Lebert, who plays four different roles with bravado and verve, pack especially good punches, delivering some of the most memorable moments of the production.

Funny as they are, our actresses aren’t fooling around when it comes to presentation. The dialogue and meaning of Centlivre’s text are not lost or garbled. Virginia Baeta, as the insecure Felix, and Julia Campanelli, as Don Lopez, are particularly fine orators with an excellent command of their words. Abbi Hawk, as the ever-loyal Violante, is also adept at her delivery and womanly consternations as she juggles her lover’s accusations and provides sanctuary for her best friend (who, incidentally, happens to be her lover’s sister). Amy Driesler, who plays a most convincing playboy Lissardo, is also well equipped to woo and titillate.

Playful but smart, The Wonder is a lively two and a half hours of comedy and laughs.