**** Recommended Fans of the beloved TV show The Golden Girls will love Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue! I was only an occasional viewer, but I must say, this cast has the ladies’ character quirks down pat. This is a comedy that anyone – TV viewer or not – will enjoy. The cast is terrific and the laughs are real! 4 Spotlights
Who would have guessed that a show about four women of a certain age, living in a retirement community in Miami, would become a smash hit on NBC! After the first season (1985), The Golden Girls ran for seven years on NBC. Most of the show’s success is due to the fabulous ensemble cast with Bea Arthur as snarky Dorothy, Betty White as ditzy Rose, Rue McClanahan as sex-crazed Blanche and Estelle Getty as Sophia (Dorothy’s mother).
As the curtain opens on that living room in Miami, Sophia (Christopher Kamm) clomps out wearing an ankle monitor. It seems she was arrested by the DEA for dealing drugs to retirees and she’s out on bail. Dorothy (Ryan Bernier) is stressed to the max trying to figure out how to pay for Sophia’s lawyer and keep her ex, Stanley (Jason Bowen) away. Sophia, on the other hand, isn’t particularly worried, because at her age, she won’t be there long!
Blanche (Vince Kelley) and Rose (Adam Gruber) have teamed up to design CreakN, a sex app for seniors. Blanche had the idea, Rose did the tech and the site is thriving. After they urge Dorothy to try it, she has an overnight ‘date’ with the sexiest senior she’s ever seen.
While she was gone, Sophia got busy baking her marijuana brownies and LSD-laced cheesecakes. While cleaning up the kitchen, Rose almost dropped a cheesecake. While catching it, she got cheesecake all over her fingers – so she licked them! Rose’s LSD trip was done in technicolor – and absolutely hilarious! By the way, listen closely and you'll hear some funny Chicago-centric ad libs.
When Dorothy’s love interest turns out to be Burt Reynolds (Jason Bowen), the DA who’s prosecuting Sophia – not the movie star – Dorothy freaks out worrying that Burt will think she slept with him for Sophia. Burt doesn’t care, however, announcing that he’s quitting that job and moving to New York to be a producer – and he wants to take Dorothy with him and make her a star!
Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue was written by Robert Leleux. This production is directed by Eric Swanson and produced by Murray & Peter Present.
Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue runs through February 25th at Broadway in Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, Chicago, with a return engagement May 14th through 26th. Running time is one hour, 40 minutes, with an intermission. Recommended for 18 & up.
Performances are Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:00 pm, Thursdays at 7:00 pm, Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 1:00 pm. Tickets range from $39.20 - $137.46. FYI (800) 775-2000, ww.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster retail locations and www.BroadwayInChicago.com.