Meadow Brook Theatre’s ‘Always a Bridemaid’ is Delightfully Charming
It’s always the promises that we make with our friends as children that come back to haunt us. Those that we make with a firm pinky grip, sealing us into a pact with those closest to us for perpetuity, without really knowing what it truly means. I know there are still promises I’ve made in my formative years that linger within relationships, just waiting to be called upon when the time is right. There was a point in my life when I wondered if I (and my friends, for that matter) were alone in these adolescent rituals, because while you see those tropes in films, you don’t necessarily hear others talking about them in everyday life. However, after seeing Always a Bridesmaid at Meadow Brook Theatre and the look of recognition on the faces amongst the audience, I knew just how shared an experience this truly is.
From the mind of Jones Hope Wooten, who also wrote Farce of Habit, Always a Bridesmaid, explores the bond between four women and the lengths they’re willing to go to keep a promise that has defined their relationship. Under the visionary Travis Walter, this stage play delivers a healthy dose of laughter along with a promise of even more heart. Always a Bridesmaid is one of those stories that you can’t help but see yourself in, regardless of age, gender, or background. These characters are universal, as is the message of strength and resilience that is present in everyone on stage. However, what stands out most is the importance of unconditional love, which is tested in both acts. Always the Bridesmaid is like a comfort show, where you can’t help but have fun and walk away feeling just a bit lighter and full of that incredible warmth.
[Warning: spoilers from MBT’s Always a Bridesmaid are below!]
Here comes the bride…again
While there are only two acts in Always a Bridesmaid, the story comprises four distinct vignettes that separate the four women over time. Told as a frame story by Kari (Kasie Buono Roberts), the daughter of Libby Ruth (Cheryl Turski), this play transports audiences back to four different weddings at the historic Laureton Oaks. Each wedding is a defining moment for the friend group as Libby Ruth, Monette (Milika Chereé), Charlie (Dani Cochrane), and Deedra (Leslie Ann Handelman) learn just how far their childhood promise can take them.
You see, all four of these women promised that they’d be bridesmaids in each other’s weddings, no matter when or where. While that promise may make perfect sense to a group of children and teenagers, in reality, it no longer makes sense in adult life. The promise glosses over so many other aspects, such as responsibilities to ourselves and others. Sure, it’s important to be there for your friends, but it doesn’t make sense to drop everything to traverse across the globe to fulfill a promise made in childlike wonder.
However, when we meet up with this friend group in the first vignette, that is exactly what happens. Monette is getting married for the third time and gives her friends short notice about the wedding. While the other three women arrive, cracks begin to form within the group. Seeds of doubt are planted, with plenty of water to grow them into bigger problems. However, the point of Always a Bridesmaid isn’t for audiences to question if those promises they themselves once made were a mistake. Instead, the play uses the story to remind them what is truly important. It’s not the promise that is important, but the people who continuously show up in your life. Who are there for you through thick and thin and will love you even in those moments where it’s difficult to love ourselves?
It’s the friendship at the core of Always a Bridesmaid that is the gift of the show. Throughout the play, we see romantic love come and go, but it’s the platonic love that stays. We consistently think that soulmates are those romantic partners that sweep into our lives in a wave of intense and passionate love, but truthfully, it’s the people who will continue to show up during both the happiest and darkest moments of your life.
A strong cast shines in Always a Bridesmaid
If you were to look strictly at the story in Always a Bridesmaid, you can absolutely see the world of ’90s sitcoms shining through, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are aspects of the story that might feel dated or cringe as the kids say, which could easily be distracting or glaring depending on the situation. Although for this Jones Hope Wooten play, it feels more like an extended episode of the incredibly beloved Golden Girls, which continues to age well. However, part of that comes down to a strong comedic cast, which is necessary for a show like this to come off as endearing.
Meadow Brook Theatre has excelled at finding a strong cast of six, which the audience immediately fell in love with. At the core stands our friend group, who carries this show on their shoulders. If one of these four were to be a weak link, the story would fall absolutely flat. The audience has to buy into both the humor in these characters and, more importantly, the emotional connection between them, which all four of these actresses excel at.
Take Monette, for example. In someone else’s hands, this character could come off sharp, perhaps even cold. However, with Milika Chereé (Footloose) embodying Monette, there’s a soft and tender side to the character. You can see the love in her eyes and the smile playing just below the surface. There’s a playfulness that Chereé brings to Monette, which is essential to holding up her corner of the friendship.
Libby Ruth is the backbone of the friend group, even if she doesn’t realize it. She’s the one holding the group together, even in moments of tough love, which every single one of them needs. She’s the friend that you know you can depend on for a laugh or a hug whenever you need it. She could easily become one-dimensional, but Cheryl Turski (What the Constitution Means to Me) infuses her with so much life. Everyone deserves a friend like Libby Ruth, and it’s largely in part to the charm and heart that Turski gives her.
Everyone needs a straight-shooter friend such as Deedra. The one who will tell you how it is, whether you like it or not. Where Libby Ruth will give you a hug, Deedra will give you the cold, hard truth. As a character, she could easily feel like too much, but Leslie Ann Handelman (Shear Madness) has instead struck a balance within the complexity. That’s not an easy task to do, but Handelman does so with ease.
Charlie rounds out the four as the friend who, from the outside, doesn’t seem to fit in. She’s rough around the edges where the others are smooth, but she’s just as important as the rest. Charlie feels most real in the friend group, with a down-to-earth attitude that balances the larger-than-life personalities. She’s sarcastic and perhaps guarded, but that doesn’t alienate her from the rest. Instead, the group embraces her and, in fact, can’t function without her. Dani Cochrane (What the Constitution Means to Me) gets to show off her comedic chops in the role, and you can tell just how much fun she’s having on stage.
However, the show isn’t complete without two others. Stephanie Wahl (Come From Away), the owner of the venue, Sedalia, is an absolute delight. She breezes in for a quick, witty comment and disappears just as fast. Part of the charm and humor comes from how deeply serious Sedalia is about her job, and Wahl lends a honeyed Southern warmth to her portrayal.
And then there’s Kari, who is largely removed from the story, but also, Always a Bridesmaid couldn’t exist without her. Her reflection on these moments brilliantly unites the vignettes as she explores the lessons about love and friendship she learned from her mother and friends. Kasie Buono Roberts (Million Dollar Quartet) is perfect for this role, delivering the lines that pull at your heartstrings and make you laugh profusely. She’s the missing piece that brings Always a Bridesmaid together, and Buono Robert’s talent shines in every moment.
Final thoughts on Meadow Brook Theatre’s Always a Bridesmaid
There’s no better way to end a season than with a bit of laughter, and Always a Bridesmaid delivers that in spades. This play filled me with warm, fuzzy feelings and made me want to reach out to friends I haven’t talked to in a while. Sure, adult life gets in the way, which I’m sure we can all understand, but Always a Bridesmaid reminds audiences that those who have true friends will always be there when you need them. Perhaps if we all went through life with love as our guiding force, as those at the center of this story, we’d have a happier world.
Always a Bridesmaid runs at Meadow Brook Theatre through June 21, so get your tickets now! Have you checked out this play yet? What did you think? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
Exclusive Interview: Milika Cheree & Stephanie Wahl of Meadow Brook Theatre’s Always A Bridesmaid
