"Leading Ladies"

"Leading Ladies," by Ken Ludwig, is a clever, zany and hilarious tale of two English actors, down on their luck and working in Pennsylvania. Posing as nephews of an old lady supposed to die and leave a fortune, they learn that the missing relatives are actually nieces.

David Bisett is the director and Jana White the producer of this “laugh-a-minute” comedy. The leading men who play the leading ladies in this show are Alex DeLeon (a newcomer to the WP stage) as Jack Gable and David McCullars (last seen as Anselmo in Man of La Mancha) as Leo Clark. They go back and forth as their alter egos, Stephanie and Maxine. Character Jack is in love with Audrey and he keeps hugging her all night long while portraying both Jack and Stephanie.

Meanwhile, the doctor and his son Butch fall madly in love with Stephanie. David McCullars moves with ease from Leo to Maxine and back again. Leo falls in love with Meg while he is dressed as Maxine, which leads to wacky moments of hilarity.

Katie Combs (Mina in Dracula) is Meg. Duncan, a dastardly minister, is portrayed by Carl Galante (most recently seen in Mousetrap as Mr. Paravacini). Rebecca Stokinger (seen on the WP stage in Man of La Mancha, and as Lucy in Dracula) plays ditsy Audrey, a waitress whose roller-skating antics are guaranteed to add to the hilarity. Ornery Aunt Florence is played by Carla Daws. Carla’s most recent role on the WP stage was Josiah Bartlett in 1776. Her funny one-liners all hit pay dirt. Gary Yowell, appearing as the doctor (his most recent WP role was in Christmas Belles), has some insulting dialogue with Duncan and some romantic conversation with Stephanie. Stephen Reynolds, who was last seen in 1776, is dumb Butch, who recites Shakespearean dialogue too fast. To say any more about the antics of the cast would be giving away the many twists and turns of this charming farce.