« "Best of Friends": offbeat comedy from Jeff Daniels »

Rating: 3 out of Fordyce

The 20th season is off and running at Jeff Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea.  The first play of the year comes to us from none other than Mr. Daniels himself. Best of Friends introduces us to two couples who at first seem like best friends who do everything together. But we quickly learn they have some conflicts and secrets.

The clever script takes us into their lives as the characters step out of the play to relate what seems to be going on and what is really going on.

This is no easy task and requires a great cast to accomplish it. Director Guy Sanville found that cast, and they are what make this play so much fun. Alex Leydenfrost and Michelle Mountain are the Martins and Matthew David and Rhiannon Ragland are the Porters. This cast of seasoned Purple Rose Players work together like a fine clock in a show where timing is everything.

It is a cute 85 minutes where you laugh a lot with these characters and learn to hate them just a little. This is not the greatest play every written (sorry Jeff), but it is a great escape from your daily life and worth a trip to the theatre just for the shocking veal and poodle scene.

I give this one a good three out of Fordyce.