Stage Review - Leading Ladies (Bremerton Community Theatre)

Stage Review - Leading Ladies
Presented By: Bremerton Community Theatre - Bremerton, WA
Show Run: October 31 - November 23, 2025
Date Reviewed: Saturday, November 01, 2025 (opening weekend)
Run Time: 2 Hours (inclusive of a 15-minute intermissions)
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman

Some comedies rely on irony or situational tension; Ken Ludwig’s farce Leading Ladies, running through November 23 at Bremerton Community Theatre in a production directed by Rana Teresa Tan, relies on velocity. At its core, Leading Ladies is an engine of misdirection, a master class in the comedy of mistaken identity, rapid reversals, and linguistic precision. What makes the playwright’s humor so distinct is how he fuses classical theatricality with contemporary pacing. His dialogue is full of rhythm and wordplay — the kind that rewards actors who can dance with the text — but beneath it all is genuine affection for the absurdity of people trying to keep control as their lies unravel. It’s a comedy of collapse, but one that always lands with charm.

The story follows Leo Clark and Jack Gable, two struggling Shakespearean actors who find themselves broke and stranded in small-town York, Pennsylvania. When they learn that an elderly heiress, Florence Snider, is about to leave her fortune to two long-lost relatives from England, they hatch a plan to pass themselves off as the missing heirs. There’s just one complication: the relatives, Max and Steve are in actuality Maxine and Stephanie. And while the long lost relatives are not the men that Leo and Jack feel so keen to impersonate, the pair is determined to go forward with their plan. What begins as a desperate money grab quickly becomes a whirlwind of disguises, romantic entanglements, and split-second costume and personality changes as the actors juggle their fake identities and their real emotions, all under the increasingly suspicious gaze of Florence’s family and friends.

Rana leans into that spirit and has assembled a cast that delivers it in laugh-out-loud fashion, making this one of the most enjoyable shows I’ve seen on the Bremerton Community Theatre stage in recent seasons. Leading Ladies is pure Ludwig, and Rana’s production nails the tone — light on its feet, a little madcap, but always underpinned by sincerity.

In Rana’s other role as scenic designer, she’s created a set that is, for lack of a more superlative term, exquisite. Most of the action takes place in the home of Florence Snider, and that’s where Rana has poured her meticulous attention to detail. The pastel colored walls are adorned with varied art pieces and other details, but the true centerpiece is the spiral staircase curling gracefully up to the bedrooms above. The filigree design of the stairs ties beautifully into the other touches — a floral privacy screen, the central placement of a potted plant, even the contour of the furniture — stretching the aesthetic harmony across the entire stage. The shrubbery wall outside the French doors completes the illusion of depth, giving the home a warm and lived-in feeling. It’s an environment that breathes comedy while feeling entirely real.

The entire design takes what Rana has created with the set and extends her vision through the entire production. The costumes, from Stephanie Mikos and (again) Rana, are equally thoughtful. From the assortment of outfits worn by Jack and Leo — including their Shakespearean attire and the hilariously extravagant dresses of their alter egos “Maxine” and “Stephanie” — to the charming dresses adorning the ladies in the show and the dapper menswear, everything fits the farce’s heightened yet believable tone. Kevin Matthew provides a generally subtle lighting design, highlighted by a cue deserving mention: the early-morning phone call scene where Rev. Duncan Wooley reaches out to the local police inspector feels unmistakably like dawn, with shadow play and soft lighting suggesting a waking world outside. Layer in Kevin’s well-timed sound cues, and the design as a whole becomes one of BCT’s most cohesive in recent memory.

From an acting standpoint, the chemistry between James Evans (Leo Clark/Maxine) and Ashley Duffy (Meg Snider) anchors the show. James is a funny Leo, but an even funnier Maxine; his English accent wobbles a touch early on as the former, but he finds full comic command once the wigs and heels come on. The quick switches between personas — sometimes mid-scene — generate huge laughs, and James’ energy is just one aspect of his performance that solidifies his ability to lead a comedic play. Ashley’s Meg is all nervous excitement when first meeting her Shakespearean idol, but she finds a quiet confidence and real sincerity in her delivery of Shakespeare’s verse, giving Meg both heart and humor.

The standout performance, though, comes from JM Specht as Jack Gable — and later as “Stephanie.” JM’s accent is sharp and consistent, but more importantly, he nails Ludwig’s rhythm. His sense of timing, both physical and vocal, is impeccable, and his understanding of farce mechanics — when to hold a beat, when to burst through it — makes every scene sing. His dynamic with Emery Ray (Audrey) is refreshingly genuine. Emery brings an effervescence to Audrey — part naïve optimism, part unfiltered energy — that feels like a jolt of fresh air each time they enter. Their scenes together, particularly when Jack’s attraction leaks through his feminine disguise, are riotous in all the best ways.

Among the supporting players, Scott Ventrice shines as Reverend Duncan Wooley, giving a delightfully exasperated turn and showing why he continues to be one of the most enjoyable comic actors in Kitsap and beyond. Scott’s Duncan insists he’s uninterested in Florence’s inheritance, but his every gesture betrays the opposite. His growing frustration with the chaos around him — and with Leo and Jack’s increasingly absurd charade — is a joy to watch. His sparring partner, Eric Spencer, as Doc Myers, the hapless doctor and Moose Lodge leader, delivers one of his funniest performances to date, full of confident bluster and impeccable timing. The verbal jousting between Scott and Eric is tightly tuned and explosively funny. Barbara Miller (Florence Snider) and Travis Johnson (Butch Myers) round out the cast nicely. Barbara brings wry vitality to a woman everyone expects to keel over but never does, while Travis provides steady energy and believable small-town charm as Audrey’s protective boyfriend.

This production is proof that Leading Ladies doesn’t need reinvention — just precision, trust in the material, and performers who understand that the best farce comes from absolute commitment. From staircase to skirt hem, this one commits completely. In the end, Bremerton Community Theatre’s Leading Ladies is a fast, funny, and fully realized romp that delivers on every promise of a Ken Ludwig comedy. It’s polished without losing its sense of play, bold without slipping into excess, and heartfelt enough to remind us that even the most ridiculous deceptions can lead to moments of genuine truth. Audiences looking for a night of sharp humor, strong performances, and impeccable stagecraft will find it all here.

Leading Ladies runs on stage at Bremerton Community Theatre through November 23. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://www.bctshows.com/.

Photo credit: Kathy Berg