REVIEW: THE CATERING QUEEN IS SERVING COMEDIC CAMP AT THE PLAYERS GUILD

Jan 20

Caterers are people too. That's the take away from playwright Alison Lawrence's refreshing and relatable revolving door comedy The Catering Queen.

Showcasing a literal behind the scenes look at the ordeals caterers go through, the story focuses on a Christmas party and the aftermath of a tragic incident. Here we meet the catering crew and come to understand their lives beyond the bowties and serving platters. They are all dreamers, recovering or staunchly optimistic, and they all interweave in each other's lives and confront guests as well as each other throughout the duration of the play.

Directors Joshua Arcari and Cecelia MacDonald, newcomers to the Players Guild, take Lawrence’s comedic script and thoughtfully tackle every moment to moment confrontation and emotional tizzy that affects their well-cast characters within a detailed and beautiful set design that envies most real life kitchens.

Kristina Kuhnert is superb as Melanie, with a too-bright smile and meticulous gestures hoping to distract audiences from being on the verge of a breakdown. Meagan Byrne is Cynthia: the essence of every sassy, overdramatic showbiz hopeful who proves to be not nearly as tough as she acts. Key Straughan (in a standout performance) as Timothy has mastered how to play camp without making it seem clichéd, and Coryn Urquhart is full of charm and bewildered facial expressions as Eric, a single dad who works hard to hide his pain. The shallow, bougie outside world gets two shameless representatives in newcomer to the Players Guild, Anthony Abreu, as the cringe-inducing, smarmy ex-boyfriend Nick (and leaves you flabbergasted wondering just how Melanie stayed with him for four years), and the hilarious Allison Dickey as a judgmental alcoholic lawyer who can’t stop voicing every thought in her head.

The performances are strong throughout and even when the revolving conversations become a bit tedious near the end, the comedy and warmth of our catering quartet never feels exhausting. The show’s ending feels a bit underdeveloped and rushes the many conflict resolutions but there’s no denying that the conclusion is equal parts hopeful and satisfying.

The Players Guild’s The Catering Queen serves audiences an unique insight into food service work and there is, mixed in with all the laughs, an encouraging message about not giving up on your dreams….or yourself. Be sure to check this one out; running now until February 1st.

CATERING QUEEN TICKETS