Anything but grave

A comedy about staying alive after death, Ivan Menchell’s “The Cemetery Club” applies the sitcom formula to the latter stages of life. While Menchell focuses on three widows from New York, his jokes and sentiments are equally applicable to the women of the Midwest. With characters as archetypal as “The Golden Girls,” director Mary K. Hodges-Nees probably had her cast picked out as soon as she read the script.

Riverwalk Theatre’s production of “Cemetery” is a near-perfect night out for a hearty laugh.

SusanChmurynsky, Kerry Waters and Kris Pecora star as three close friendswho became even closer after the loss of their husbands. While theyhave found comfort in the routine of visiting the cemetery once a monthtogether, they each deal with loss in distinct ways.

AsIda, the quiet mediator who offers passive support, Chmurynsky feels ascomfortable as ever. While she certainly never risks rushing any lines,Menchell’s script is joke-laden enough to allow for plenty of pausesand a few of Chmurynsky’s flubbed lines.

Asthe bitter Betty White character, Doris, Pecora revels in the combativedialogue that she shares with her promiscuous friend and foil Lucille,played by Kerry Waters.

Ultimately,Waters steals most of the scenes with her towering stature aided byspiked heels and equally styled hair that would garner the approval ofMarge Simpson. Waters helps toset the plot in motion, as well as nearly every scene. That said, thebest lines are the insults typically shared between Doris and Lucille;Waters and Pecora should be commended for keeping straight faces.

Garrett W. Clinard’s natural tendencyto under-play gels wonderfully with the character of the docile andgentle Sam. As the love interest, Clinard shows off his puppyish sidewhen falling in love. As the sensitive widower, he delivers the mostpoignant line about the short span of time between standing at the altar and standing at the grave with tender empathy.

The cast is rounded out by Maureen A. Quealy,who briefly plays Sam’s date. Quealy has few lines but she serveswonderfully as the aged vixen with no qualms about stealing availablemen when there are fewer and fewer of them left.

Althoughthe first half tends to feel sluggish, the second half is worth waitingfor as problems are resolved through a drunken catfight and Dorisunloads the contents of her purse.

TimFox’s lighting design with spotlights and nighttime-blue blends wellwith Patti Campbell’s costume picks. Bob Nees has designed a solid setthat keeps the backstage quiet and the foreground from being too noisywith heeled shoes.

“TheCemetery Club” may not be very deep but it is therapeutic because ahealthy dose of laughter is certainly necessary after a heavy helpingof grief.

"The Cemetery Club"

Riverwalk Theatre 228 Museum Drive 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25; 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27; 2 p.m. Sunday,Feb. 28 $10 general admission Thursday; $14 Friday, Saturday andSunday; $8 for students and seniors Thursday; $12 students/seniorsFriday, Saturday and Sunday.
(517) 482-5700 www.riverwalktheatre.com