There is no such thing as a perfect wedding.
At least not in the comedic play “Always a Bridesmaid”, featuring four women who agreed at senior prom to attend each other’s future ceremonies.
Flash forward to over 30 years later and the weddings have come to fruition along with runaway brides, fistfights and ugly bridesmaid dresses, according to representatives from the presenting theater company Encore Players.
“It’s a beautiful story about friendship and about how our plans go a little wonky sometimes,” Amanda Farmer, director and previous Encore Players performer, said ahead of the play’s opening in Livermore next week. “The writing is very clever.”
As a director, Farmer aims to highlight the show’s comedy as well as the bond between the characters.
The women stand by each other through challenges in life such as divorce and estrangement from other people, Farmer explained.
“They don’t always get along, but they know that even through that, one little fight, one little argument, is not going to destroy their friendship. It’s not going to change their minds about one another, which I think is a really lovely message,” Farmer said.
If an attendee has taken part in any wedding, they are bound to understand the characters’ experiences, whether it’s the “bride-zillaness” of some roles or simply the pressures of the day, according to Farmer.
Among the female friends, Monette Gentry is flashy and flirty, performer Lea Blevins said of the character she portrays.
“I was excited to be cast in this show because it’s a solid script with a lot of great lines, fun characters and over-the-top scenarios,” Blevins told the Pleasanton Weekly.
“I love going to rehearsal and forgetting about everything else for a couple hours while taking on the characteristics of another person, especially one as entertaining as Monette,” Blevins added. “It’s freeing to let go and to not be afraid to look silly.”
Written by Jones Hope Wooten, the cast also features Alex Lobao, Amanda Pepper, Donna Blevins, Maren Haws and Meredith Sarboraria. The production team includes Desty Olson, Martie Muldoon, Bill Leach and Nancy Grover.
Most of the cast and crew are from Livermore, but there are participants from Pleasanton, Castro Valley, Brentwood and Pleasant Hill, Lea Blevins said.
Encore Players is set to present “Always a Bridesmaid” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 and Nov. 7-8 as well as 2 p.m. Nov. 2 and Nov. 9 at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore. For more information, visit livermorearts.org.
