Reviews: "Miss Witherspoon" at Lab Theater (2)

Here's the reviews for "Miss Witherspoon," now playing at the Lab Theater.

Stephanie Davis in "Miss Witherspoon."

Christopher Durang play "Miss Witherspoon" features the adventures of Veronica in her afterlife. She was depressed in life and now she's depressed in death. Why can't she just take some time off? And why is her spirit guide making her go BACK to earth?

Stephanie Davis plays Veronica. Supporting cast includes: Rob Green, Kathleen Moye, Gerrie Benzing and Yvonne Shadrach. Annette Trossbach directs.

"Miss Witherspoon" runs Oct. 11-26. The Laboratory Theater of Florida is located at 1634 Woodford Avenue in downtown Fort Myers. Tickets are $12-$22 and available online at laboratorytheaterflorida.com or at the door.

Tickets are also available online here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/391346. (use code BARDO to save $5)

Review: Lab Theater, Davis mine laughs in Durang's 'Miss Witherspoon' ($$)

Chris Silk / Naples Daily News
Oh Veronica. Dead. Depressed. Desperate for Jewish heaven, even if Jewish heaven is just a sort of permanent general anesthesia. You know, because the descendants of Abraham don't believe in that whole afterlife thing. Me? I'd prefer … well, I'm not sure what I'd prefer.

Review: Afterlife a funny but wearisome place in Lab Theater's 'Miss Witherspoon'
Charles Runnells / The News Press
Miss Witherspoon has had enough. Enough of love. Enough of people. Enough of Skylab and smallpox and terrorists. Enough of life. That’s why she keeps killing herself, over and over again. Problem is, she always ends up in the same place — the heaven-like The Bardo — and chirpy, Indian-accented “angel” Maryamma keeps sending her back to Earth to live yet another sad, depressed life.

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Thomas Hall, the Arts & Exhibits Examiner for Fort Myers, wrote a piece about "Miss Witherspoon."

Lab Theater's 'Miss Witherspoon' big on laughs and strong performances
Thomas Hall / Examiner.comIt's a good thing Christopher Durang is so accomplished, because if he'd been a first-time playwrite looking for a Manhattan literary agent, his script would have been rejected out of hand for violating today's literary mantra of "show, don't tell." Veronica's opening scene is one long, snarky, sardonic siloquay which Davis uses to perfection to win the sympathies of the audience - which is saying a lot given that Veronica is a self-absorbed, self-indulgent, sniping bitch.